The Welipenna Interchange of the Southern Expressway has been temporarily closed due to a minor flood, the Road Development Authority (RDA) has said.

Meanwhile, a water level of 1 1/2 feet is reported from the Mathugama – Aluthgama road.

Also, the Colombo – Awissawella highlevel road is reportedly underwater from the Eswatta junction to Hingurala Junction, reports say.

According to the police, traffic is hampered due to this.

The Department of Meteorology has issued a ‘Color: Red’ warning for heavy rainfall in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Galle and Matara districts, in the next 24 hours.

Showery conditions are expected to enhance to some extent in the south-western part of the Island in the next few days starting from today (10), due to the development of atmospheric disturbance in the vicinity of Sri Lanka.

Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern and North-western provinces, it said.

Very heavy showers above 150mm are likely at some places in Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Galle and Matara districts.

Showers or thundershowers will occur elsewhere at several places in the island during the evening or night.

Fairly heavy showers above 75mm are likely at some places.

The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.

Acceptance of nomination papers from recognised political parties and independent groups to contest the 2024 General Election will end at 12 noon today (11).

The Election Commission stated that it is possible to handover the nomination papers at the District Secretariat Offices all over the country until 12 noon today (11).

Opportunity to file objections has been provided for one and a half hours after the closing time of accepting nomination papers, the Election Commission stated.

A total of 88 political parties and Independent groups have submitted their nomination papers for the upcoming General Election to the Election Commission as of Wednesday (9). Out of the 88 nominations handed over, 46 are from recognised political parties and 42 from Independent groups.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission has announced the dates for the issuance of ballot papers and marking of postal votes in the 2024 Parliamentary Election.

Accordingly, the marking of postal votes will be held on October 30 and November 4 for all state sector offices, election offices, police stations and police related offices in all the district secretariat offices in the country.

Apart from this, casting of postal votes in other government institutions and military bases is to be held on November 1 and November 4. For those who fail to cast their postal votes on the assigned dates, November 7 and 8 have been designated as additional dates to cast their votes, the Election Commission stated.

Meanwhile, the certification of postal voter lists will be done on October 16 and the issuance and delivery of postal voting ballot papers will be done on October 23.

Delivery of official polling cards to the post office will be done on October 26 and October 27, 31 and November 03 have been designated as special distribution days for official polling cards. The last date for distribution of official polling cards is November 7, 2024.

Election Commissioner General Saman Sri Ratnayake has informed all District Returning Officers and all the District Deputy Assistant Election Commissioners to plan to organise the related work to inform the local officials of the Postal Department about the specified dates.

(Daily News)

(This story, originally published by Daily News has not been edited by SLM staff)