A special meeting has been convened this morning to identify urgent measures to tackle the flooding in Colombo, Mayor Vraie Cally Balthazaar has said.
She said representatives of all relevant government institutions will take part, and that the meeting was called after several parts of the city were flooded by heavy rain last evening.
The Mayor explained that Colombo’s drainage system is designed to handle rainfall of about 30 millimetres, but the city received nearly four times that amount, creating an exceptional situation. Acknowledging the serious disruption to residents, she said the Colombo Municipal Council intends to work closely with the relevant institutions to find immediate solutions.
Participants are expected to include representatives of the police, the Tri-Forces, Divisional Secretariats, the Governor’s Office, the Sri Lanka Land Development Corporation and the Urban Development Authority. The discussions will focus mainly on improving drainage and addressing issues related to the city’s canal network and road infrastructure.
