Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has taken steps to provide immediate relief to people who have been affected by floods and landslides which have been reported from many parts of the country.
A preliminary discussion was held between Secretary to the Prime Minister Saman Ekanayake and the District Secretaries of Kalutara, Gampaha and Galle, a release by the Prime Minister's Media Division said today.
The Prime Minister said that he had instructed the Treasury to take steps to provide relief funds through District Secretaries. Accordingly, during the discussions with the Ratnapura District Secretaries, the Prime Minister said that the Treasury Operations Department has allocated funds to provide relief to the people affected by floods and landslides.
Heavy rains have been falling on the western slopes of the central hills since Monday (30) night. According to reports, the water levels in Castlereagh and Maussakele reservoirs are also rising. The Nuwara Eliya District Disaster Management Unit informs the public to be aware of the risk of landslide disasters.
Meanwhile, the National Building Research Organization (NBRO) yesterday issued landslide warnings to Colombo, Kalutara, Galle, Matara, Kegalle, Ratnapura, Kandy and Nuwara Eliya districts following the heavy rains experienced in these districts throughout the day yesterday (31).
The alert warning was issued for the Dehiowita, Ratnapura, Kuruwita, Eheliyagoda, Pelmadulla, Elapatha, Nivithigala and Kalawana Divisional Secretariat Divisions and surrounding areas while Watch Warnings were issued to Seethawaka, Padukka Nagoda, Baddegama, Yakkalamulla, Palindanuwara, Bulathsinhala, Walallawita, Ingiriya, Pasbage Korale, Warakapola, Yatiyanthota, Bulathkohupitiya, Deraniyagala, Ruwanwella Pasgoda, Athuraliya, Pitabeddara, Kotapola, Ambagamuwa, Ayagama, Godakawela, Kahawaththa and Kiriella Divisional Secretariat Divisions and surrounding areas. Due to the heavy rains, the water levels in major reservoirs including Kalu Ganga, Gin Ganga, Nilwala Ganga and Attanagalu Oya also had increased to alert level causing minor floods in some areas such as Millakanda, Panadugama and Dunamale.
