Water levels rise:

Be alert, public told

The Irrigation and Water Resources Management Ministry has warned people living in low lying areas around the country’s reservoirs to be watchful since the water level in these water bodies have been sharply increasing following current heavy rains.

A Ministry release said the capacity of Inginiyagala Senanayake Samudra has reached 700,000 acre feet. It can hold a water level of only 110 feet and the present level is 104 feet. As such two spill gates have been opened to release excess water at the rate of 800 cu feet per secs. The Senanayake Samudra has faced such a situation after 16 years, according to Irrigation Director General Dr G G A Godaliyadda.

Meanwhile, the water level has increased in the Padaviya and Wahalkada wewas in Anuradhapura district. The Roogama and Nawagiri reservoirs in Batticaloa are in spate.

Ten spill gates have been opened in the Kantale Wewa and four spill gates have been opened in the Parakrama Samudra. The Kawudulla and Minneriya reservoirs are also in spate.

Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva has directed all engineers in charge of reservoirs to pay constant attention to the emerging situation with the support of their staff.