Heavy rain and strong winds wreaked havoc across Sri Lanka on Christmas Day, as the depression over the Southwest Bay of Bengal began moving across Sri Lanka.

Police said two people have died and three were injured as a boulder fell on a house in an earth slip at Alawathugoda in the Kandy District.

Meanwhile, the Parakrama Samudraya in Polonnaruwa and Giant’s Tank in Mannar begin spilling over due to heavy rain, Irrigation Dept officials said.

Public have been urged to exercise caution when traveling near reservoirs, rivers, and other water bodies.

Six spill gates of the Deduru Oya reservoir were opened and a minor flood situation was expected by Sunday evening in low-lying areas of the Deduru Oya basin.

Earlier today, the Kandy Railway Yard was inundated due to heavy rains and train operations along the upcountry railway line were hampered. Tonight’s night mail trains from Colombo Fort-Badulla and Badulla-Fort have also been cancelled.

Meanwhile, the Meterology Department has predicted more heavy rains, strong winds forecast for tomorrow (26) as depression over Southwest Bay of Bengal crosses Sri Lanka and heads to western sea areas.

It is expected to move west-northwestward, closer to the northern coast of Sri Lanka and towards the Tamil Nadu area by November 20 – 21.

Showers will occur at times in Eastern Province. Fairly heavy showers above 50mm can be expected in some places.

Several spells of showers will occur in Northern and North-Central provinces while,  fair weather will prevail elsewhere in the country.

Strong winds of about 40-50 kmph can be expected at times over the Northern, North-Central and Eastern provinces.

Misty conditions can be expected in Sabaragamuwa, Uva and Central provinces in the morning.

Sea areas:
Due to the low-pressure area in the southeast Bay of Bengal, the naval and fishing communities are advised not to venture into the deep and shallow sea areas off the coast extending from Kankesanturai to Batticaloa via Trincomalee and Bay of Bengal Sea area until November 21.

Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in the deep and shallow sea areas off the coast extending from Kankesanturai to Batticaloa via Trincomalee.

Winds will be northerly and the speed will be 25-35 kmph. The wind speed may increase up to 45-50 kmph at times in the sea areas off the coast extending from Kankesanturai to Pottuvil via Trincomalee and Batticaloa. The wind speed can increase up to 40 kmph at times in the other sea areas around the island.

The sea areas off the coast extending from Kankesanturai to Pottuvil via Trincomalee and Batticaloa will be rough at times. The other sea areas around the island will be fairly rough at times.

Heavy showers of about 100mm can be expected at some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, Southern, Uva and Eastern provinces, the department says.

It adds that showers can also be expected in the coastal areas of the Western and Eastern provinces and in the Mullaitivu, Galle and Matara districts during the morning as well.

General public has been requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.

So far, over 3,000 persons have been affected due to inclement weather.

The Disaster Management Centre said 916 families in 15 districts have been affected due heavy rains and gusty winds in recent days with 06 disaster-related deaths also reported.

The DMC also adds that 198 houses have been damaged due to adverse weather in the past two weeks.

Accordingly, showers or thundershowers will occur at times in Northern, Eastern and North-central provinces. Showers or thundershowers will occur elsewhere during the afternoon or night.

Fairly heavy showers above 50mm are likely at some places in Sabaragamuwa and Central provinces.

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