Sri Lanka Flood Situation Update No.2

Sri Lanka 18 May 2010 at 1830 hrs

GLIDE: FL-2010-000092-LKA

Situation

Since Friday, 14 May 2010, heavy monsoon rains have resulted in flash floods, high-winds, landslides, lightning and thunder storms in 11 districts in Sri Lanka. Nine of the districts are in the southeast and include: Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, Ratnapura, Kegalle, Matara, Kegalle, Puttalam and Galle. Two of the affected districts are in the northeast: Trincomalee and Anuradhapura. See attached table breakdown and map.

As of Tuesday, 18 May 2010, over 298,543 persons (62,261 families) have been affected by the heavy rains. This includes minor displacement of 7,477 people and 8 deaths. The Government of Sri Lanka is responding to the crisis through local and central levels and the Navy has been deployed with their boat teams to assist with evacuations.

The Department of Irrigation has indicated that rising water levels exist for the following areas (see details in Annex 1):

- Kelani River, Hanwella DS Division, Colombo District

- Kalu Ganga (river), Palindanuwara DS Division, Kalutara District

- Gin Ganga (river)

The National Building Research Organisation has issued a Landslide warning (level 2 - be ready for evacuation) to the following districts and AGA Divisions under threat:

- Ratnapura District - Palmadulla, Kuruvita, Eheliyagoda, Kalawana, Kolonna, Elapatha Divisions

- Kalutara District - Kalutara, Bulathsinhala, Horana, Palinda Nuwara, Agalawatte, Walallawita, Bandaragama, Mathugama, Ingiriya, Panadura Divisions

- Galle District - Neluwa, Hiniduma, Thawalama, Baddegama, Elpitiya, Bope Poddala, Nagoda, Karandeniya, Weliwitiya Divithura Divisions

- Kegalle District - Deraniyagala, Yatiyantota, Dehiowita Divisions

Warning of cut slope failures possible in Colombo and Gampaha Districts.

The Sri Lanka Navy has forecasted severe rains to continue at least through 22 May which may result in an increase of affected areas and persons.

A government lead inter-agency assessment mission is planned for Gampaha and Kalutara on 19 May. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency is acquiring satellite images of the affected area on 19 May to support analysis and response planning.

The power interruptions reported on 18 May have been resolved.