Heavy rains and strong winds wreak havoc across Sri Lanka

Colombo (News 1st) - Heavy rain and strong winds wreaked havoc across Sri Lanka on Christmas Day, killing at least two people as the depression over the Southwest Bay of Bengal began moving across Sri Lanka.

Police said two people died and three were injured as a boulder fell on a house in an earth slip at Alawathugoda in the Kandy District.

The Parakrama Samudraya in Polonnaruwa and Giant’s Tank in Mannar begin spilling over due to heavy rain, Irrigation Dept officials said. The public was urged to exercise caution when traveling near reservoirs, rivers, and other water bodies. Six spill gates of the Deduru Oya reservoir were opened and a minor flood situation was expected by Sunday evening in low-lying areas of the Deduru Oya basin.

The Kandy Railway Yard was inundated due to heavy rains and train operations along the upcountry railway line were likely to be delayed, the Railways Superintendent said.

Heavy rain over 150mm was expected in the Eastern, Uva, Central, Sabaragamuwa, Western, Southern, and Northwestern provinces and P’naruwa district on Sunday, with over 75mm expected in other areas.