Storm Likely to Affect Sri Lanka

A developing storm system in the Bay of Bengal is expected to move toward Sri Lanka, bringing rainfall of around 75 mm, particularly to the Northern, Eastern, and North-Central provinces, the Department of Meteorology said.

While the predicted rainfall is not considered severe, officials note that even moderate showers could worsen conditions in areas already affected by recent flooding. The Irrigation Department, the Mahaweli Development Authority, and the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) have been alerted to conduct impact assessments in vulnerable regions.

The BBC’s weather outlook also indicates that cloud formations over the Bay of Bengal may intensify into a storm and track toward Sri Lanka, resulting in heavier showers.

Commenting on preparedness measures, Deputy Minister of Land and Irrigation Aravinda Senarath said both the Irrigation Department and Mahaweli Authority are closely monitoring reservoir levels, especially with the northeast monsoon expected to activate in the coming days.

He noted that many major reservoirs are currently at spill level after the heavy rains brought by Cyclone Ditwah.

“If we experience more rainfall in the range of 150–200 mm, the situation could become risky. Teams are on standby to release excess water and manage the system safely,” he said.

The deputy minister added that small and medium-scale irrigation tanks suffered the most damage during the recent flooding.