Bad weather leaves four dead

Four deaths have been reported so far from Galle, Gampaha and Badulla districts due to the adverse weather conditions, Police Spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekara said. 

According to reports, one person was hit dead by a tree branch on Wednesday and two persons were reported missing after their boat capsized in the south of the island.

The government has ordered the Police and Disaster Management teams to be on alert as strong winds and heavy rains lashed out across the country causing destruction, especially in the southern province.

The Department of Meteorology, in a weather alert issued on Wednesday night, warned naval and fishing communities to be vigilant as wind speeds could increase up to 70 to 80 km per hour at times.

Very heavy rains, strong winds and rough seas could be expected in the deep and shallow sea areas around the island, particularly in the western and southern sea areas, the department said.

It said the low pressure area in the vicinity of Sri Lanka had developed in to a depression and it is expected to develop further and move away from the island along the southern coast within the next 12 hours.

Electricity failures were experienced in many areas in Colombo and the southern districts on Wednesday evening while strong winds and lightening had uprooted trees across many main roads.

The Road Development Authority requested motorists to drive at a low speed and refrain from travelling on roads where trees had been uprooted.