Eight reservoirs under the Irrigation Department were spilling at 1 p.m. on 10 October, and spill gates remained open at three major reservoirs, the department said in its latest reservoir status report.
The major reservoirs spilling or releasing water include Ambewela and Kande Ela in Badulla, Yan Oya and Rajangana in Anuradhapura, Deduru Oya in Kurunegala and Wan Ela in Trincomalee. Two medium-sized reservoirs, Bomuruella in Badulla and Denagama Wewa in Galle, were also spilling.
Rajangana was releasing 5,365 cubic feet of water per second and Deduru Oya 2,800 cubic feet per second. Yan Oya was releasing 68 cubic feet per second and Wan Ela 10.
The effective storage of the department’s 74 major reservoirs stood at 35.3 percent of total capacity, the report said.
The department asked people living downstream of reservoirs that are spilling to watch river water levels and follow instructions from the Irrigation Department and local authorities. The report was issued by Irrigation Director (Water Management) H.M.P.S.D. Herath.