A sudden flooding situation has been reported in a Divisional Secretariat Division in the Kandy District due to heavy rainfall, Director of the Disaster Management Centre Pradeep Kodippili said.
As a result, 25 people from eight families have been affected and are currently being temporarily accommodated at Bavwagama Vidyalaya in Nawalapitiya.
Relief measures are already being implemented for the displaced people, he said.
The highest rainfall recorded during the past few hours was reported from the Walallawita area in the Kalutara District, with 119 millimetres of rainfall.
Rainfall between 50 and 119 millimetres has also been recorded in Hanwella, Elpitiya, Neluwa, Dunhinna, Wathurawila and Naula, the Director said.
He further stated that the Disaster Management Centre is prepared to face both the prevailing dry weather in several parts of the country and the heavy rainfall affecting other areas.
The public has therefore been urged to closely follow advisories issued by the Department of Meteorology, while people living in hilly areas have been advised to remain alert for early signs of landslides.
The public has also been requested to inform the 117 emergency hotline if any disaster situation occurs.
Meanwhile, Pradeep Kodippili said 161,451 people belonging to 49,344 families in eight districts across the country have been affected by the impact of the El Niño weather conditions.
Continuous programmes are being implemented to provide drinking water to affected communities.
Accordingly, drinking water is currently being distributed to 141,312 people belonging to 43,221 families living in 36 Divisional Secretariat Divisions.
The districts facing drinking water shortages are Ampara, Anuradhapura, Badulla, Batticaloa, Matale, Monaragala, Polonnaruwa and Ratnapura.
He also stated that the Department of Meteorology has announced that an unsettled atmospheric condition is prevailing in the lower atmosphere near Sri Lanka.
As a result, the Western, Central, Sabaragamuwa, Southern and Uva provinces are expected to remain cloudy, with occasional showers or thundershowers.
Showers or thundershowers may also occur at several places in other parts of the country after 1.00 p.m., according to the Department of Meteorology.
