December 11, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka’s main river systems are flowing steadily and show no signs of posing a flood risk, according to a hydrological assessment released at 6.30 a.m. today (11).
The latest readings indicate that all major waterways remain comfortably within their safe limits, offering reassurance to communities still anxious after recent severe weather.
The Hydrology and Disaster Management Division reports that the Kelani, Kalu, Mahaweli, Gin, Nilwala and Walawe basins are all registering levels well below their respective alert thresholds.
Measurements taken between 5.00 and 6.00 a.m. reflected largely stable conditions, with only a few locations recording negligible rises amounting to mere millimetres.
On the Kelani Ganga, gauges at Nagalagam Street, Hanwella, Glencourse and Kithulgala continued to show normal flows. The Kalu Ganga, while displaying slight increases at Putupaula, Ellagawa and Ratnapura, remains safely beneath any warning markers. The Gin, Nilwala and Mahaweli rivers exhibited a similar pattern, with no stations reporting concerning behaviour.
Rainfall has been relatively subdued over the past 21 hours. The highest totals—29.4 mm at Maguru Ganga and 14.7 mm at Baddegama—were modest and unlikely to affect river levels significantly.
The update, compiled by Hydrology Assistants and validated by Eng L. S. Sooriyabandara, Director of Hydrology and Disaster Management, notes that routine monitoring will continue throughout the day.
Authorities, however, emphasise that current conditions present no immediate risk of flooding, allowing residents in vulnerable areas a brief but welcome respite.
