Colombo floods: special meeting on immediate solutions; hospital operations back to normal

A special meeting is currently under way, attended by Colombo Mayor Vraie Cally Balthazaar and representatives of key state institutions, to find immediate solutions to the flooding caused by heavy rain in Colombo on Friday evening. Several aspects, including improving the city's drainage systems, are being examined.

Meanwhile, hospital sources said operations at the National Hospital of Colombo, some of which were disrupted by the floods, have returned to normal. Hospital staff cleaned the affected areas within a few hours and restored services.

Explaining the reason for the sudden flooding, Meteorology Department Director General Ajith Wijemanna said the main cause was the extreme rain recorded in a short period. More than 120 millimetres of rain per hour was recorded in Colombo, and more than 135 millimetres in the Mattakkuliya area, he pointed out. The ITCZ wind zone and second inter-monsoon conditions created a favourable setting for evening thundershowers, he explained.

He also said drains blocked by human activity worsened the situation. Although Colombo recorded 493 millimetres of rain in 1992 and 440 millimetres in 2010, this time blocked drains delayed the floodwater from draining away, he said.