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Rains wreak havoc on Christmas Day ; more rains tomorrow

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Landslide warnings have been issued to several areas in the Kandy, Matale, Nuwara Eliya, Kegalle and Kurunegala Districts until 8.30am tomorrow.

Heavy rain and strong winds wreaked havoc across Sri Lanka on Christmas Day, as the depression over the Southwest Bay of Bengal began moving across Sri Lanka.

Police said two people have died and three were injured as a boulder fell on a house in an earth slip at Alawathugoda in the Kandy District.

Meanwhile, the Parakrama Samudraya in Polonnaruwa and Giant’s Tank in Mannar begin spilling over due to heavy rain, Irrigation Dept officials said.

Public have been urged to exercise caution when traveling near reservoirs, rivers, and other water bodies.

Six spill gates of the Deduru Oya reservoir were opened and a minor flood situation was expected by Sunday evening in low-lying areas of the Deduru Oya basin.

Earlier today, the Kandy Railway Yard was inundated due to heavy rains and train operations along the upcountry railway line were hampered. Tonight’s night mail trains from Colombo Fort-Badulla and Badulla-Fort have also been cancelled.

Meanwhile, the Meterology Department has predicted more heavy rains, strong winds forecast for tomorrow (26) as depression over Southwest Bay of Bengal crosses Sri Lanka and heads to western sea areas.

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Heavy rainfall and thunderstorm warning issued for several provinces

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The Department of Meteorology has issued a warning of thunderstorms and heavy rainfall in several areas.

The warning which was announced last night, will remain in effect until 11:15 am today.

The North-Western, Central, Uva, Sabaragamuwa, North-Central, and Eastern provinces are expected to experience heavy rainfall exceeding 150 mm in some areas.

The Department urges the public to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.

Batticaloa has received the highest rainfall at 129.5 mm Since 8:30 am yesterday, followed by 111 mm in Wadakada, Kurunegala and Mahaoya in Ampara with a rainfall of 105.5 mm.

Due to the ongoing showers, the landslide warning issued for several divisional secretariats across six districts will remains in effect until this evening.

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President’s Secretary orders urgent probe into salinity barrier’s role in Matara flooding

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A special discussion was held at the Presidential Secretariat, led by Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake the Secretary to the President, and attended by officials from the Irrigation Department, the National Water Supply and Drainage Board, and related Ministries.

The meeting was held yesterday (08)  focusing on determining if the Salinity Barrier is indeed contributing to the floods leading to agricultural damage, according to President’s Media  Division (PMD).

It was decided that a thorough study is necessary to address these concerns and that the Engineering Department of the University of Peradeniya will assist in this investigation. The Secretary to the President supported this proposal and directed the officials to create an action plan based on the findings from the study.

Additionally, officials reported that saltwater intrusion has adversely affected livelihoods, with many residents losing farmland. The Secretary highlighted that restoring normal conditions is both a government and official responsibility and directed further action to address flooding in the Matara area, the PMD stated.

Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake has instructed officials to prepare a proposal based on a study by the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Peradeniya. The solutions derived from this report will guide the second phase of the project, with necessary funding requests to be submitted.

He also emphasized the importance of implementing a structured flood management plan for the Matara district and directed the coordination between the Irrigation Department and Water Supply and Drainage Board to establish a sustainable flood management plan in Matara, said the PMD.

The Secretary noted that there have been complaints from residents by the river banks regarding the adverse effects of the salinity barrier, which has led to the loss of farmland and livelihoods along the Nilwala River. He stressed that it is the government’s responsibility to address this issue urgently and to restore normalcy. Additionally, he directed officials to continue working towards solving the flooding issue in the Matara region.

–PMD–

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Sri Lanka to face New Zealand in first T20 at Dambulla Tonight

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The first of the two-match T20 series between Sri Lanka and New Zealand takes place tonight at Dambulla, starting at 7 p.m. 

The Blackcaps hold a slight advantage in their head-to-head, winning 5 out of 10 past T20 encounters. 

This marks the teams’ first T20 match at Dambulla, with New Zealand arriving after a 3-0 Test victory over India but fielding a younger T20 lineup. 

The last series between the sides, in 2019, saw New Zealand win 2-1 in Pallekele.

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