Sri Lanka Faces Mounting Flood Risk as Rivers Swell and Nearly 3,000 Residents Affected

Heavy rains across Sri Lanka have caused river levels to rise in multiple regions, affecting nearly 3,000 people, while authorities maintain high alert warnings for landslides and fishing restrictions remain in place.

The Department of Irrigation reported that water levels in the Kelani and Kalu rivers continue to climb following persistent heavy rainfall across the island. The Kelani River is rising from the Hanwella area, though a minor flood threat previously identified in Glencorse has begun to subside. Similarly, the Kalu River is experiencing rising water levels from the Kalawellawa area, with the earlier minor flood risk around Ratnapura decreasing. In contrast, the Mahaweli River around Peradeniya, which had previously required monitoring, is now receding.

The impact on residents has been substantial, with 2,971 individuals from 769 families currently affected by the disaster conditions, according to official reports. In response, the Navy has deployed 11 teams equipped with rescue craft, while maintaining 171 additional teams on standby for deployment if the situation deteriorates further. These measures reflect the scale of the emergency response being mobilized across affected areas.

Authorities have implemented multiple precautionary measures to protect the public. The National Building Research Organisation has issued red-level landslide warnings for six divisional secretariat areas across the Kandy, Kegalle, and Nuwara Eliya districts, with yellow alerts issued for additional locations in these districts as well as Ratnapura. The Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources has maintained a fishing ban across a 300-kilometer coastal stretch from Puttalam to Pottuvil due to rough sea conditions, instructing both small and multi-day fishing vessels to remain in port.

The Department of Meteorology anticipates further challenges ahead. Director Merril Mendis indicated that rainfall exceeding 75 millimeters is expected in some locations across the Sabaragamuwa, Kandy, and Nuwara Eliya districts, with rainy conditions expected to intensify in coming days as the southwest monsoon remains active.