Weather

The Department of Meteorology website has run into trouble due to technical issues as adverse weather conditions caused havoc in some areas over the weekend. The department has created a temporary window to disseminate information on weather until the website restored. Meanwhile heavy rain and gale force in Badulla caused havoc with Haliella town going under water while earth slips were reported from Ella-Wellawaya and Passara-Madolsima- Metigahathenna areas. Asst. Director Disaster Managment Centre in Badulla E M.L. Udayakumara said several business establishments in Haliela town had gone underwater causing damage to goods. Badulla District Executive Engineer,. Road Development Authority S.S.Hennayaka said steps were being taken to clear the obstructions of traffic. A gale force wind and heavy rain had caused extensive damage to more than 30 houses in Theldeniyaya in Diulapelessa,. OIC Diulapelessa Police IP M.D .Deshapriya said the power supply had been affected owing to the fall of trees that caused damage to the power supply mains. He said a high-tension power transmission line in the Walasgala area had been damaged. In another development, Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) reported approximately 30,000 power outages have been recorded across the island due to adverse weather conditions over the weekend. Meanwhile the National Building and Reaserch Organisation had warned of possible danger of landslides in Haliela, Ella, Badulla, and Passara divisions, in the Badulla District, Narammala division , in the Kurunegala district, Ukuwela, and Ratthota division A group of 21 young men and a young woman who camped on the summit of the Nagangala hill in Haliela who got into difficulty owing to the heavy rain and strong winds were saved by Kandegedara police with the help of the army and brought down the hill on Saturday night (04). They had camped on the hill top on Saturday, regardless of inclement weather prevailing in the area. The gale force wind had blown off their tents leaving them to the mercy of heavy rain. They had informed Kandegedara police for help and a police team under OIC Kandegedara, and IP Geeth Ratnayaka had rushed to the scene with the army saved the group of 22 local tourists after an eight hour operation in the pitch dark.