ngoing rainy weather in the south-western part of Sri Lanka.

The Met Department has warned that the ongoing rainy weather in the south-western part of Sri Lanka is likely to continue due to an atmospheric disturbance near the island.

According to the department, showers or thundershowers are expected at various times in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, North-western, and Central provinces.

“Some areas in the Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces, as well as in the Galle and Matara districts, could experience heavy rain of about 100mm.

Other areas of the island will also see showers or thundershowers in the evening or at night, with some places receiving fairly heavy rain above 75mm,” it forecast.

In addition, strong winds of around 30-40 kmph are expected in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, North-western, and Central provinces.

The Met Department has issued a ‘Red’ alert for the sea areas off the coasts extending from Puttalam to Hambantota via Colombo and Galle.

The advisory, issued at 08.30 a.m. this morning, will be effective for the next 24 hours. The sea area will be very rough at times with very strong gusty winds of up to 60-70 kmph, it added.

The height of waves may also increase  to about 2.5–3.0 m in the sea area, according to the Department.  The fishing and naval communities have been requested to refrain from sea activities until further notice.