Yodakandiya wewa reaches spill level

COLOMBO: The Yodakandiya Wewa in the Hambantota District has begun to spill over since last Saturday as a result of torrential rains during the past few days, states a press release from the Disaster Management Centre in Colombo.

Out of the six sluices of the Lunugamvehera Tank, one sluice has been opened while the Grama Niladhari areas of Andaragasyaya, Maagama, Kirinda and Tissamaharamaya were inundated owing to heavy rains displacing 300 families.

The Yodakandiya Wewa Bund is under threat of being breached and the Irrigation Department in Hambantota is launching an instant operation to control the situation. Arrangements are being made to provide relief to people in three temporary camps.

The relief activities are being jointly conducted by the Hambantota District Disaster Management Centre, Hambantota District Secretariat, Tissamaharamaya Divisional Secretariat, Weerawila Air Force Camp, the Navy, the UNDP and businessmen engaged in the fishing industry.

The Hambantota District Centre of "Sarvodaya" distributes food among the families.

Since the Hambantota Highway is under water, motorists travelling from Colombo to Hambantota are advised to use the Udawalawe route, says Hambantota District Disaster Management Coordinator Wing Commander M. G. M. Chandralal.