Tuesday Sep 22, 2026
Tuesday Sep 22, 2026
Tuesday, 22 September 2026 06:12 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Sri Lanka’s National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) has reported around 35 minor land instability incidents over the past three days amid heavy rainfall, warning that the situation could worsen if rains continue.
Rainfall over the past three days had exceeded 300 mm, and continued intensity at this level could trigger landslides, rock-falls, subsidence and slope failures. No major incidents had been reported so far, with only minor occurrences recorded to date, authorities said.
Fourteen districts are currently at risk of landslides, with Red Warnings issued for six of them. Authorities said the number of districts under Red Warning could rise if rainfall intensifies, and urged residents in high-risk areas previously identified by Divisional Secretariats to evacuate to safe locations without delay.
The Irrigation Department said significant rainfall continued across the Western, North Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and the Galle, Matara, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya and Matale districts, though intensity had eased slightly. The upper catchment areas of the Kelani River had received 100mm to 125mm of rainfall as of yesterday morning, while most other river basins recorded 50mm to 80mm over the preceding 24 hours.
Water levels in the upper catchments of the Gin and Nilwala rivers have risen following rainfall exceeding 200mm two days earlier, posing a minor flood risk to Baddegama, Udugama, Akuressa and Thalgahagoda. The Kuda River, a tributary of the Kalu River, is approaching minor flood levels in the Millakanda area, while Kelani River levels at Hanwella and Avissawella remain high. Reservoir storage under the Department of Irrigation stood at 34%-35%, though levels at Kotmale and Polgolla have risen sharply due to rainfall in the upper Mahaweli basin.
The Irrigation Department extended flood warnings for the Kuda Ganga sub-basin of the Kalu Ganga and the Gin Ganga basin by a further 24 hours, urging residents and motorists, particularly on by-roads, to exercise extreme caution.
Separately, the Department of Meteorology said a low-pressure area over the Andaman Sea is expected to intensify into a depression within 24 hours. While not expected to directly impact Sri Lanka, associated wind flow is forecast to sustain rainy conditions, particularly in the southwest. Showers or thundershowers are forecast today in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and North-Western provinces, and in the Galle and Matara districts, with heavy rainfall of around 100mm possible in some areas. Strong winds of 40-50kmph are also forecast over the western slopes of the Central Hills, North-Central and North-Western provinces, and in Trincomalee, Hambantota and Matale.
The Education Ministry said 38 schools island-wide, including 35 in the Central Province, were granted a holiday yesterday due to the adverse weather, with local education authorities empowered to decide on school closures in their areas.
