The Department of Irrigation said that 36 out of the 73 major reservoirs under its control are currently spilling, while nearly 52 medium-sized tanks have also overflowed.
Director of Hydrology and Disaster Management at the Department of Irrigation, Engineer L. S. Sooriyabandara, said the ongoing spilling of reservoirs does not pose an immediate flood risk and urged the public not to be unnecessarily alarmed.
However, he noted that river water levels could change depending on upcoming monsoon rainfall and stressed the need for continuous monitoring and the implementation of necessary precautionary measures.
According to the department, the highest rainfall during the past 24 hours was recorded in areas within the Nilwala River basin. Several locations in the basin recorded rainfall between 50 and 100 millimetres, while around 25 millimetres was reported in many parts of the wet zone.
About 50 millimetres of rainfall was also recorded in certain areas of the Central Highlands and the Kelani River basin. In addition, rainfall ranging between 25 and 50 millimetres was reported in parts of the Eastern Province.
Sooriyabandara said that while a slight increase in the water level of the Nilwala River has been observed, it has not reached flood-risk levels based on the rainfall received so far.
He added that the water level at Manampitiya along the Mahaweli River remains relatively high but is gradually receding, and that despite rainfall in other catchment areas, water levels have not risen to levels that would cause flooding.
