5 dead, 60, 000 affected by adverse weather in Sri Lanka

At least five people died and another 60,000 people have been affected following heavy rainfall that battered Sri Lanka over the weekend. 

Many areas across the island nation experienced heavy downpours over the last few days, reports say.

However, the bad weather conditions in Colombo ceased, but a few hours later, the capital was battered again by heavy rain flooding on several roads.

Due to the severe downfall, over 60,000 people have been displaced. 

The Disaster Management Center says that they are ready to provide relief to those who have been affected.

An individual who went for a swim in an inundated marsh in Sapugaskanda died after drowning in the flood.

Sri Lanka Police said that the deceased had visited the location on October 16 evening with another group. The deceased was a 36-year-old resident of Ayagama, Rathnapura.

Another 26-year-old man died after he drowned in a wooded bridge canal in Nawagamuwa. The body of the man who had gone for a swim in the canal was discovered on October 16 evening by a resident.

The water level in Aththanagaluoya remains high following a torrential downpour on October 16-17.

Raising water levels are inundating several areas along the Gampaha Kandana and Gampaha Jaela main roads.

A tributary of the Aththanagalu Oya flowing through Katana Kibulapitiya has overflowed, inundating several houses and low-lying areas.

Intermittent showers were experienced in the Galle district on October 17.

The recording at the Ging River water gauge located in Baddegama measured 3.5 meters on October 18.

With the rising water levels of the Ging River, lowlands in the Ganegama and Wakwella areas remain inundated.

Multiple areas of Ambalangoda, Batapola, and Galle Elpitiya roads were inundated.

The water levels of the Nilwala River continue to rise. Several areas of the southern province were flooded earlier.

Fishermen from those areas did not set out to sea due to the rough seas around the Matara area.

Landslide warnings were issued for Kalutara, Nuwara Eliya, Rathnapura, Kegalle, and Colombo as well as other districts and continue to be in effect.

The Disaster Management Center said level three red warnings have been issued for the land in Ingiriya, Walallawita, Palindanuwara, and Bulathsinhala regional secretariats. 

The department of irrigation also stated that there is a risk of inundation of lowlands along the rivers if the rain continues. 

Athula Karunanayake, Director General of the Department of Meteorology, said that the island is experiencing the inter-monsoon period these days.

In the evening or at night, rainy conditions will prevail all over the island.

"We are expecting heavy rains in the Western and Galle, Matara districts and some places in the Sabaragamuwa and Central Provinces, and there is a possibility of rainfall of between 50 and 75 millimeters," said Karunanayake.

Temporary strong winds and thunderstorms may also occur. Showers or thundershowers may occur at places along the coastline from Putlam to Pothuwil through Colombo.

There may be a possibility of the sea being rough. The chances of rain falling will be increasing over the next few days and are currently highlighted in our analysis.