Heavy rains, winds to continue

RASIKA SOMARATHNA

The present weather pattern is likely to continue with the formation of another low pressure disturbance in the Bay of Bengal, the Met Department said yesterday.

Met Department sources said the bright sunshine experienced yesterday since the heavy deluge for a couple of days might be short lived in the wake of the low pressure disturbance.

Attributing the heavy rains due to the disturbed condition in the Bay of Bengal 600 km south of Trincomalee, Met Department sources said by yesterday, the disturbance was observed moving away from the country exiting from the Northern area.

However, the weathermen warned that heavy showers might continue specially in the Trincomalee district and Jaffna peninsula with scattered showers being reported in the Western, North Western, Central and Sabaragamuwa Provinces.

The winds may increase up to 45-50 km/h at times in the Southern, S. Western, and Eastern areas with seas being rough specially in the Southern and Eastern coastal belts.

There were reports from some areas about damages due to flooding specially from the Kalutara and Ratnapura districts with landslides too being reported from some areas in the Central Province.

The Disaster Management Ministry sources said they were geared to handle any eventuality with disaster management centres islandwide being kept alert. Ministry sources added that they had already taken steps to help the affected with the assistance of the authorities.

Meteorological sources said it was too early to predict if the latest disturbance would affect the country while adding that they were keeping a close watch on the situation and would inform the public immediately with regards to any new development.

Meanwhile, heavy rains have caused damage to paddy and vegetable cultivations in Thihagoda, Kamburupitiya, Akuressa, Pitabeddara, Kotapola Deniyaya, Hakmana and adjacent areas in the Matara district, our Malimbada group correspondent reported.

Farmers were unable to prepare seed paddy to cultivate their paddy lands during the next season properly, because of the rains in the district. Vegetable cultivations have also been affected.

Rains have also hampered tea, rubber and brick industries.