Rain, wind and landslides affect 65,000 Sri Lankans

The situation

A late-onset of the north-eastern monsoon after the continuous inter-monsoon period has caused floods and landslides in thirteen districts in Sri Lanka, heightening the risks at the central highlands. Anuradhapura, Badulla, Batticaloa, Polonnaruwa and Puttlam are most affected districts due to the heavy rainfall, strong winds and landslides since 3 December 2019. 64,608 people (18,840 families) have been affected, with two persons reported dead, 62 houses fully damaged and 1,463 houses partially damaged. 17,766 people (5,255 families) have been evacuated to the 133 locations set up to assist people displaced.

Showery conditions are likely to continue further over the island between 23 and 24 December 2019. Very heavy showers are likely in Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Trincomalee and Vavuniya districts.

Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in Northern, Eastern, North-central, Uva, North-western and Central provinces and in the Hambantota district. There is increased risk of flooding in the North, North-central and Eastern provinces, and landslides and slips in Central highlands. Heavy rain falls above 100 mm are expected in Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Trincomalee and Vavuniya districts and fairly heavy falls about 75 to 100 mm are likely at some places in Western, Sabaragamuwa and Uva provinces, and in Batticoloa, Ampara, Nuwara-Eliya, Matale, Puttalam, Mannar and Mullaitivu districts.

During the last 10 days, intense rainfall from the north-eastern monsoon has led to an overflow of most of the water reservoirs and tanks in East, North, North-central and North-western provinces, triggering floods in several villages and affecting over 30,000 individuals. National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) of Sri Lanka had issued a “Level 3 Red Alert” landslide warning for the districts of Badulla, Kandy, Matale and Nuwara-Eliya. The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) has issued warnings to the people who live by riverbanks and lowlands to be on alert for flash floods. Tri forces have been deployed for emergency relief activities and evacuations.