The Irrigation Department has taken steps to issue a flood warning notice in the Maha Oya and Deduru Oya areas.
The Irrigation Department says that these warnings were issued in view of the heavy rainfall in the Maha Oya basin and the Deduru Oya basin.
Based on the rainfall conditions and the analysis of the water levels of the river gauges maintained by the Irrigation Department in the Maha Oya basin, the Department has warned that significant flooding is possible in the low-lying areas of the Maha Oya valley belonging to the Divisional Secretariat divisions of Alawwa, Divulapitiya, Mirigama, Pannala, Wennappuwa, Negombo, Katana and Dankotuwa within the next 36 hours.
Meanwhile, the Irrigation Department says that the water level in the Deduru Oya is approaching flood stage due to the significant rainfall in the upper and middle reaches of the Deduru Oya basin.
The Department also states that the sluice gates of the Deduru Oya reservoir have been opened and water is currently being released into the Deduru Oya at a rate of 16,250 cubic feet per second.
The Irrigation Department said that depending on the current water capacity of the reservoir, this situation may increase in the future and due to this, a flood situation may occur in the lower reaches of the flood valley belonging to the Divisional Secretariat Divisions of Wariyapola, Nikaweratiya, Mahawa, Kobeigane, Bingiriya, Pallama, Chilaw, Arachchikattuwa, and Rasnayakepura located along the Deduru Oya.
Due to this, the statement issued by the Irrigation Department further states that residents of the lower valleys surrounding the reservoirs, residents of the aforementioned Divisional Secretariat divisions, and all parties using the access roads should be vigilant.