Rain makes sluice gates open

Bandula Godakumbura, W C B Fernando and Indika Polkotuwa

Irrigation authorities have opened sluice gates of all major reservoirs in the country as they have reached the spill level due to heavy rain experienced islandwide.

The people living around major reservoir areas have been warned to be vigilant as the low lying areas may go under water due to the opening of sluice gates.

Polgolla, Kotmale, Victoria, Randenigala and Rantembe, in the hill country and other tanks such as maduru Oya, Lunugamwehera, Dambullu Oya, Kalawewa, Rajanganaya, Inginimitiya and Thabbowa have all reached the spill level and sluice gates of these reservoirs have been opened. Several paddy lands irrigated by these reservoirs have been submerged by water discharged from reservoirs and tanks. Several roads have been closed due to the threat of sinking. Mahiyanganaya-Kandy road and Kalapitiya in the Matale District in the A9 road are at risk of sinking.