ECONOMYNEXT – Flood levels in most rivers and downstream of reservoirs have stabilized or are easing except in the Trincomalee, district and major irrigation works have survived the Cyclone Ditwah, Director General of Irrigation Ajith Gunasekera said.
“Our reservoirs are intact. When the rains started to intensify, we opened the sluice gates to the required amount to protect them,” Gunasekera said in comments broad over Sri Lanka’s Sirasa television.
“There are no risks from the reservoirs. In the Mahaweli River, in Trincomalee flood level is high. It will remain so tomorrow as well. After that it will start to ease.”
A 200 metre stretch in the Elahera anicut has been washed away, which will be repaired in the future.
“Other than Trincomalee where the flood level is high, we can say that the flood level will not increase considering the current weather conditions,” Gunasekera said.
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In Polonnaruwa, floods were at high levels due to the Mahaweli River flows. Minneriya and Kawdulla Reservoirs are still spilling but the flood levels are down.
In Kelani River, water levels have started to go down in Hanwella near Kaduwela and in Nagalagam Street water levels have peaked and is unlikely to go up more than 6 inches in the next 24 hours, though remaining above major flood level, he said.
Irrigation Department data show that at Nagalagam Street, Kelani River water has stayed at 7.5 metres for the last two hours ending 4.00 pm. At Hanwella the water level had fallen from 10.69 to 10.64 and 10.60 over the two hours ending 4.00 pm.
“In Gampaha town flood level will remain at these levels, but is projected to fall from tomorrow morning,” Gunasekera said.
Giriulla town which was flooded due to Maha Oya will seen water levels going down from tomorrow
In the Kalu River, Ratnapura water levels are going down but Kaluthara will continue to see elevated levels for a time.
In the Deduru Oya, the reservoir is now spilling about 100,000 cubic feet now, but it will be reduced tomorrow. The flood in Chilaw hospital area will fall from tomorrow.
Due to spilling of reservoirs in the Malwathu Oya, Anuradhapura flood levels will remain at these levels tomorrow morning and will start to fall from the afternoon.
The Rajangana Reservoir which was spilling 100,000 cubic feet per second to Kala Oya has now reduced to 60,000 cubic feet by now. As a result Eluwankulama and Nochiyagama was inundated.
It is now stabilizing, and from tomorrow water will go down, Gunasekera said. (Colombo/Nov30/2025)