Downstream of the Panapitiya protection bund is secure - Irr. Dept.
May 28, 2017 10:40 pm
The Irrigation Department confirms that residents living downstream of the Panapitiya protection bund have no need to panic.
The Department confirmed that the water levels of the Kalu Ganga were not rising in said region.
Due to the risk of collapse posed by the Panapitiya dam of the Bolgoda Reservoir, the areas of Wadduwa, Bandaragama, Anguruwatota, Morethuduwa, Panadura-North and Panadura-South may be affected by floods, Police announced earlier today (28).
Meanwhile, reports confirmed that the Kalu River began overflowing earlier today (28), due to the rise in water levels.
The Kalutara district secretary therefore advised occupants of the river banks in Panadura and Bolgoda, and residents of Wadduwa and Moronthuduwa to be on alert.
The water level gauges in Ratnapura, Millakanda and Putupawula all indicated that the water levels of the Kalu River were at the major flood stage.
However, the Department of Irrigation confirmed that the water level was gradually receding in Ratnapura and Millakanda.
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Spokesperson, Brigadier Roshan Senevirathne stated that a special operation has been commenced by the SLA, to curb the emergency situation that emerged in association with the Millaniya dam in Bandaragama.
Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) transported boats to flood-ridden areas of Kalutara by means of aircrafts, in order to avoid delays and obstacles posed by ground travel.
The SLAF also confirmed that this was the first time in Sri Lanka that boats were being transported by air.
The Ratnapura district suffered the greatest impact of the extreme weather. The Ratnapura District Secretariat Office confirmed in the morning today (28) that the death toll of the district was at 71, with 5 more injured, and 20 reported missing. 85,758 in total have been affected in Ratnapura. No information has been provided on the property damage.
Reports confirmed that most of the deaths in Ratnapura were due to landslides.
Meanwhile, the Irrigation Engineer of the Colombo Zone, Chaminda Pushpakumara verified that there was no signs of structural failure with the ‘Agul Dora’ of the Diyagama-Kalutara flood control dam, and assured that there was no apparent indication that it would give way.
He added that the door would be incrementally and methodically opened only if the need arose.
