Hydro power capacity boosted by rains

Disna MUDALIGE

Heavy rainfall in the catchment areas has contributed to the increase in hydro power generation capacity up to 25.6 per cent, the Ceylon Electricity Board said. It said that 7.6GWh had been generated by hydro power on Monday.

The Meteorology Department said that Norton had received 186mm rainfall on Monday, Canyon 183.4mm, Lakshapana 179.9mm, Castlereagh 117..3mm, Kotmale 128.7mm, Maussakele 93.6mm, Maskeliya 84mm and Ukuwela 67.3mm. The maximum rainfall amounting to 233.5mm was reported from Ginigathhena.. Department Duty Forecaster Meril Mendis said that showers or thundershowers would deveop at several places in the Western,

Sabaragamuwa and Central provinces and Galle, Matara and Kurunegala districts even today.

He also said that rough South Westerly winds could also be expected during showers or thundershowers.

He noted that isolated thundershowers would develop in the Eastern and Uva provinces during the afternoon or evening.

Meanwhile the Disaster Management Centre Deputy Director of Media Sarath Lal Kumara said that two sluice gates in Lakshapana, one in Canyon and one in Norton had been opened following heavy rains.

He also said that Hatton - Nuwara-Eliya road which was blocked due to an earth slip near Kudaoya was cleared by yesterday morning.

The National Building Research Organization has issued a landslide warning in several areas in Nuwara Eliya, Kandy and Kegalle districts.