The Disaster Management Centre has warned of potential minor flooding in several central districts as the Mahaweli River swells, with the Kotmale Reservoir expected to overflow later today.
Multiple areas in central Sri Lanka face the risk of minor flooding as water levels in the Mahaweli River continue to rise following heavy rainfall. According to the Disaster Management Centre (DMC), settlements in Peradeniya, Gampola, and Nawalapitiya are among the zones experiencing elevated water levels that warrant close monitoring.
The DMC Director General (Retired) Major General Sampath Kotuwegoda indicated that conditions are likely to worsen when the Kotmale Reservoir begins to overflow at 3.00 p.m. today. This discharge is expected to push water levels further upstream along the Mahaweli, placing additional pressure on already rising rivers in the region.
Several divisions have been identified as particularly vulnerable to flooding, including Udunuwara, Udapalatha, Yatinuwara, Ganga Ihala Korale, Pasbage Korale, and Gangawata Korale. In response, authorities have positioned military and police units across affected regions to support emergency operations. District officials have been instructed to prepare contingency measures, including the possibility of evacuating residents from high-risk zones if water levels continue to escalate.
Members of the public experiencing emergencies or flooding situations have been advised to contact the DMC emergency hotline at 117 for immediate assistance and guidance.
