Floods, landslides, earthslips not ruled out
 

by Nadira Gunatilleke

Sri Lanka can expect an average rainfall during the Southwest Monsoon season due to commence in the latter part of this month. However floods, landslides and earthslips cannot be ruled out.

The situation will depend on the frequency of the rainfall experienced in the country (whether it is within one day or not), said the officials of the Meteorology Department. Addressing a press briefing at the Department yesterday they said that the Southwest Monsoon is the longest weather season in Sri Lanka which prevails from mid May to end September.

Strong winds together with high tide can be expected at the onset of Southwest Monsoon season. When the wind is strong sea erosion and slight intrusion of sea water can also be expected along the South Western coastal areas. As the coast is more open to the sea after the tsunami disaster intrusion of sea water may be higher at some places this year, the officials said.

The formation of the onset is mostly associated with a tropical disturbance in the Bay of Bengal. Fairly heavy falls are likely in the southwestern parts of Sri Lanka during the first few weeks of the monsoon. Southwest Monsoon conditions are likely to get established towards the end of the third week of this month. Prior to this, rain will mainly be confined to the Western Province and Galle and Matara districts in the morning.

According to the statistics earthslips and landslides can be expected if there is over 100 millilitre of rainfall. Kolonna, Kalawana, Ratnapura and Deniyaya have been identified as high risk areas for landslides. There are ten districts, Matale, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Badulla, Kegalle, Ratnapura, Kalutara, Galle, Matara and Hambantota have been identified as landslide prone districts.

Explaining the reason for the unbearable heat experienced these days they said that the atmospheric temperature is high and the winds are also dry. The high humidity level in the air also increases the heat because the human body fights to keep its natural level of temperature.

Meanwhile officials pointed out that certain electronic media broadcast inaccurate statistics which mislead the public and school children in order to amuse listeners. The harm done by such inaccurate statistics is huge. On one instance they broadcast that the average temperature in Sri Lanka had gone up by 5 degrees during the past years but if that happened people would not be able to live. The temperatures go up only by less than one degree. The forecasts provided by the Met Department is about 70 per cent accurate and the Department functions round the clock after the tsunami disaster.

Meteorology Director, K. R. Abhayasinghe, Director General, Meteorology, G. H. P. Dharmaratne, Director, Meteorology, P. M. Jayatilleke Banda, Geological Survey and Mines Bureau, R. M. S. Bandara, Deputy Director, Meteorology, S. H. Kariyawasam and several other officials were present.