Widespread heavy rainfall has prompted authorities to open sluice gates at multiple reservoirs and issue a series of flood warnings across several districts, disrupting transport and placing thousands on alert.

In Moneragala, two spill gates of the Weheragala reservoir were opened by one foot and four more by six inches after water levels rose sharply, Assistant Director of the District Disaster Management Centre (DMC) Ravindra Kumara said. The Menik Ganga has now reached spill level, prompting warnings to pilgrims heading to Kataragama and Sella Kataragama to avoid entering the river.

Traffic along the Wellawaya–Wewelakandura road was also hampered after the Alikota Ara reservoir reached capacity and its spill gates were opened, submerging parts of the route. Officials said water levels in the area rose rapidly due to persistent downpours.

Meanwhile, the Department of Irrigation cautioned of potential flooding within the next 48 hours in low-lying areas of the Mahaweli River Basin. Heavy rainfall in upstream catchments has put several Divisional Secretariat divisions — including Kinniya, Muttur, Kantale, Seruvila, Welikanda, Medirigiriya, Lankapura, Thamankaduwa and Dimbulagala — at heightened risk.

Sections of the Batticaloa–Polonnaruwa road, especially near Gallella, and access routes to the Somawathiya Raja Maha Vihara may become inundated. Devotees have been advised to postpone visits until conditions improve. Residents close to the Mahaweli River have been urged to remain on high alert.

In a separate advisory, a red flood warning was issued for downstream areas of the Gal Oya following intense rainfall that pushed the Senanayake Samudraya in Inginiyagala to full capacity. Authorities warn that opening the spill gates could trigger major flooding downstream, affecting communities in Damana, Ampara, Eragama, Addalaichenai, Sammanthurai, Nintavur, Karaitivu, Sainthamaruthu, Kalmunai and Navithanveli, as well as low-lying zones near the South Eastern University in Oluvil.

Disaster Management authorities have called for immediate preparedness and urged the public, particularly motorists and residents in vulnerable areas, to take precautionary measures as adverse weather conditions persist.