FLOOD SITUATION REPORT IN THE DRY ZONE OF SRI LANKA

According to the 12^th March announcement from the Disaster Management Centre (DMC), some areas in the Trincomalee and Anuradhapura Districts were inundated following torrential rain, but no flood victims had been reported so far. The Divaina local newspaper reported that the affected areas are Nelsanpura, Sumedhankarapura, Thulsipura, 3 mile post and Trincomalee, with approximately 1000 families being displaced in the Trincomalee district.

The Island Newspaper on 13th March reported that 20 large reserovoirs in the dry zone have had to open their sluice gates in order to release water. These reservoirs are situated in the Anuradhapura, Badulla, Kurunegala, Batticaloa, Monaragala, Polonnaruwa and Trincomalee districts.

The following table shows the tank's in Anuradhapura that are close to or have reached their maximum water level:

Name of Tank	Maximum Level	Present Water Level
Rajanganaya	35.0	34.50
Kalaweva	424.0	424.16
Nachchaduwa	25.0	25.0

The DMC have warned of ‘imminent’ landslides in the districts of Badulla and Ratnapura, as stated in the Daily Mirror on 14^th March. A minor landslide has already taken place in the Badulla DS area.

Farmers organizations are predicting a massive problem for harvesting activities as much harvested paddy is being destroyed, and that which is growing is of immediate risk. Hundred’s of acres of paddy land is under water, with entire harvests wiped out.
These figures can be seen below:

Number of Acres	Affected District
1867 acres	Muttur
2 acres	Ralkuli
Over 400 acres	Moraweva
Over 3000 acres	Tissamaharama

Badulla District DMC reported the closing of the Ella- Wellawaya road due to a landslide, causing the death of 2 people, and damaging 178 houses.