November 18, Colombo (LNW): The Irrigation Department has confirmed that two spillway gates at the Deduru Oya Reservoir have been lifted by around a foot each, increasing downstream discharge to roughly 1,400 cubic feet of water per second as the region continues to face unrelenting rainfall.
Elsewhere, engineers at the Polgolla Mahaweli Dam reported that six of its sluice gates were raised earlier today, each by about 18 inches. This controlled release is sending an estimated 9,000 cubic feet of water per second towards the Victoria Reservoir, easing pressure on the Polgolla basin after several days of unsettled weather.
Officials are advising communities living along the downstream stretch of the Mahaweli River to remain vigilant, particularly those who rely on the river for transport, fishing, or daily chores. With water levels expected to fluctuate throughout the day, local disaster-management teams have been placed on alert and residents urged to keep a close eye on official safety updates.
