The Department of Irrigation has warned of potential flooding in low-lying areas along the Mahaweli River Basin following recent rainfall in upper catchment regions, with the alert affecting six administrative divisions.
The Department of Irrigation issued a flood warning on Tuesday afternoon alerting residents of six divisional secretariat divisions to the risk of flooding within the next 24 hours. The advisory, issued at 12:30 p.m., will remain active until 12:30 a.m. the following day and specifically targets low-lying areas near the Mahaweli River in Udunuwara, Udapalatha, Yatinuwara, Ganga Ihala Korale, Pasbage Korale, and Gangawata Korale divisions.
The warning follows heavy rainfall recorded in the upper catchment areas of the Mahaweli River system over the preceding hours. The Department has urged residents living in low-lying zones and those in close proximity to the river to exercise caution and implement protective measures for both personal safety and property preservation.
In response to the alert, the Department of Irrigation has directed relevant disaster management authorities to initiate preparedness protocols and deploy response mechanisms as needed. Officials have also advised the public to remain vigilant regarding weather patterns and river condition changes, noting that additional rainfall is anticipated in the coming days. Residents are urged to monitor official updates closely and take all necessary precautions during the warning period.
