More rains expected

Inter-tropical convergent zone activated:

Lakshmi DE SILVA

Sudden thundershowers experienced in Colombo and the suburbs Thursday evening inconvenienced people especially those leaving their places of work. In most areas heavy rains could be experienced till mid May, meteorologists said.

Heavy thundershowers were experienced within a short time in most areas of the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, South Western and Central Provinces more showers could be experienced during the coming days as the inter-tropical convergent zone is activated above the country, Meteorologist Nandalal Peiris said yesterday.

Thundershowers were experienced Thursday with the highest rainfall over Angoda – 207 millimetres, Dehiwala 128.4 mm and Colombo 117.1 mm. The public should be cautious during thundershowers as it is dangerous to move out as strong claps of thunder and sudden gusts of wind may prove to be dangerous to venture outdoors, he cautioned.

These weather conditions began when the sun moved directly above Sri Lanka from April 5–15. The Sun is now moving to the north. Strong winds could be experienced in many parts of the country especially as where there are thundershower, he said.

National Building Research Organization Land Side Division Head R.M.S. Bandara said on Thursday, Ratnapura experienced 61.9 mm of rain in a short time.

Four incidents of landslides were reported during the last few days, one at Balakaduwa, Akurana, damaging two houses.

People living in a dangerous location at Galigamuwa in Kegalle district were evacuated to safe areas. In Dayagama in the Nuwara Eliya District a number of buildings put up on landfill with bad drainage were sinking.

Nine families in Haldumulla Division have been evacuated due the threat of landslides at Idalgashinna plantation.

These families were given alternative houses sometime back as it would be dangerous to live in the present houses on the plantation but they had not moved out.

Nuwara Eliya Disaster Management Co-ordinating Officer Erandana Hemawardena said the people occupying shops and houses at Dayagama have been told to vacate the premises as there could be danger to their lives during rainy seasons.