News
Despite drop in rainfall several rivers in spate
by Ifham Nizam
There had been a decrease in rainfall yesterday in most parts of the country, but water levels in Kelani Ganga -Hanwella area, Kuda Ganga, Maha Ganga and Attangala Oya were still rising, Irrigation Department Disaster Management and Director Hydrology, Eng. S.P.C. Sugeeshwara said.
The Disaster Management Centre said that nearly 1,500 people had been affected due to floods following torrential rains which wreaked havoc in eight districts.
Some 1,200 people families in the Sabaragamuwa, Uva, North Central, Eastern, North Eastern, Central and Western Provinces have been rendered destitute.
Three people were injured in Ratnapura and Kurunegala districts due to floods.
About 100 houses were partially damaged and two houses were destroyed by floods.
Minor floods were reported from several areas across the country.
Water levels of the Kelani, Kalu, Gin, Nilwala, and Mahaweli rivers and also Maha Oya and Attanagalu Oya have risen, the Department of Irrigation said.
The Irrigation Department has warned that there is a high risk of severe floods as the upstream catchment areas of the Maha Oya basin have received heavy rainfall.
The low-lying areas of the Maha Oya valley in the Divisional Secretariat Divisions of Alawwa, Divulapitiya, Mirigama, Pannala, Wennappuwa, Negombo, Katana, Narammala and Dankotuwa have experienced minor flood conditions, says the Irrigation Department, warning that severe floods may occur in the said areas.
The National Building Research Organization (NBRO) has said that there is a risk of landslides in 41 regional secretariat divisions in eight districts.
The Department of Meteorology yesterday said that showers would occur at times in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, and North-Western provinces and Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Galle, and Matara districts.
Fairly heavy showers above 50mm may occur at some places in Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and Kandy, Nuwara-Eliya, Galle, and Matara districts.
Several spells of showers may occur in the Northern and North-central provinces.
Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in Uva and Eastern province during the evening or night.
Landslide risk notices have been issued to 41 Divisional Secretariat divisions in Colombo, Kalutara, Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Matale, Nuwara Eliya, and Ratnapura Districts. Red notices have been issued to 11divisional secretariat divisions in five districts–– Ududumbara in the Kandy District, Rambukkana, Ruwanwella Yatiyantota, Bulathkohupitiya and Mawanella in the Kegalle District, Mallawapitiya in Kurunegala district, Ambagamuwa in the Nuwara Eliya District and Kuruwita and Kalawana in the RatnapuraDistrict. In addition to this, a second level landslide warning has been issued to the divisional secretariat divisions of six other districts.
Meanwhile, the water level of the catchment areas of the Kelani river basin has risen due to continuous rainfall.
The Irrigation Department has cautioned that minor floods may occur in low-lying areas of the Divisional Secretariat areas of Dehiowita, Seethawaka, Deraniyagala, Dompe, Avissawella, Hanwella, Kaduwela, Biyagama, Kolonnawa, Colombo and Wattala.
Latest News
Heat Index at ‘Caution level’ in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern and North-western provinces and in Anuradhapura, Mannar, Vavuniya and Monaragala districts
Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology
at 3.30 p.m. on 25 March 2026, valid for 26 March 2026.
The Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern and North-western provinces and in
Anuradhapura, Mannar, Vavuniya and Monaragala districts.
The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and this is the condition that is felt on your body. This is not the forecast of maximum temperature. It is generated by the Department of Meteorology for the next day period and prepared by using global numerical weather prediction model data.
Effect of the heat index on human body is mentioned in the above table and it is prepared on the advice of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services.
ACTION REQUIRED
Job sites: Stay hydrated and takes breaks in the shade as often as possible.
Indoors: Check up on the elderly and the sick.
Vehicles: Never leave children unattended.
Outdoors: Limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated.
Dress: Wear lightweight and white or light-colored clothing.
Note:
In addition, please refer to advisories issued by the Disaster Preparedness & Response Division, Ministry
of Health in this regard as well. For further clarifications please contact 011-7446491.
By Shamindra Ferdinando
A spokesperson for the US Embassy in Colombo declared that the United States and Sri Lanka maintain a long-standing defence partnership, grounded in transparency, mutual respect, and shared interests.
The official said so in response to The Island query regarding President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s recent bombshell disclosure, in Parliament, that his government declined to allow the US Air Force to use the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport, following the eruption of the latest West Asia war.
We sought views of the US on President Dissanayake’s claim against the backdrop of Sri Lanka being a party to the Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA) since 2007. Sri Lanka extended the ACSA in 2017, for another 10-year period, and its extension comes up next year.
The President revealed that the US had requested permission to use Mattala, between 04 and 08 March.
Claiming that the request had been made on 26 February, two days before the war began, President Dissanayake said that the US had sought to land two aircraft, carrying eight anti-ship missiles, but that the request had been turned down to maintain Sri Lanka’s neutrality. The President revealed that the aircraft were to come from a US base in Djibouti.
The US embassy pokesperson explained that questions related to operational movements, including ‘Operation Epic Fury’, should be directed to the Department of War (DOW) in Washington.
Camp Lemonnier is the primary base of operations for US Africa Command in the Horn of Africa. China, too, has its only overseas military base in Djibouti in the vicinity.
Military sources said whatever various interested parties said about US-Sri Lanka relations, the former provided significant intelligence support during last phase of the conflict that enabled the Navy to hunt down floating LTTE arsenals in international waters. Of the eight LTTE vessels sunk, the US backed four hits with specific intelligence, sources said.
News
No decrease in remittances from workers due to Gulf conflict, but significant drop in tourist arrivals – CB Governor
Sri Lanka’s worker remittances had not seen a decrease despite the ongoing conflict in West Asia, Central Bank (CBSL) Governor, Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe said yesterday.
“Based on currently available data, they have not seen a decline in remittances. In fact, according to that we have observed, is a slight increase in remittances in the past few days, ” the Governor said at a media conference held at the Central Bank head office in Colombo.
Governor Weerasinghe also mentioned that he had not seen any reports about Sri Lankans returning to the country from the Middle East due to the ongoing conflict.
The Central Bank Governor, however, acknowledged that there had been a decrease in tourist arrivals. He confirmed that tourist arrivals had decreased by around 17 percent due to the current volatile situation in the Middle East.
Meanwhile, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka has decided to maintain the Overnight Policy Rate (OPR) at the current level of 7.75%, following its latest Monetary Policy Board meeting.
By Hiran H Senewiratne
UN votes to recognise enslavement of Africans as ‘gravest crime against humanity’
Meta and YouTube found liable in landmark social media addiction trial
Showers expected in the Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Galle and Matara districts after 2.00 pm.
Heat Index at ‘Caution level’ in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern and North-western provinces and in Anuradhapura, Mannar, Vavuniya and Monaragala districts
US dodges question on AKD’s claim SL denied permission for military aircraft to land
No decrease in remittances from workers due to Gulf conflict, but significant drop in tourist arrivals – CB Governor
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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