Heavy rainfall experienced across the country could lead to rising water levels in reservoirs and increased spill operations in the coming days, the Irrigation Department warned.

Director of Irrigation (Hydrology and Disaster Management) Lasantha Sooriyabandara said authorities have already begun releasing water from several reservoirs identified as reaching critical levels due to the prevailing weather conditions.

Speaking during the television program, he said around 65 percent of the total reservoir capacity in the country has already been filled.

According to the Irrigation Department, 12 of the country’s 73 major reservoirs are currently spilling, while six medium-sized reservoirs have also exceeded capacity levels.He warned that the spilling of the Weheragala Reservoir has created a potentially dangerous situation in the Kataragama area, particularly around the Menik Ganga.

Sooriyabandara said that many pilgrims and visitors travelling to the sacred city from outside areas may not be familiar with the river’s sudden changes in water flow and urged the public to exercise extreme caution when bathing or using the river.

He further warned that if heavy rainfall continues over the next few days, authorities may be compelled to increase water releases from reservoirs, further raising the risk in vulnerable areas.

However, he highlighted that no flood situations have been reported so far due to the controlled release of water from reservoirs.

The Irrigation Department also cautioned that the current weather pattern is capable of producing intense rainfall within short periods, increasing the possibility of sudden inundation in low-lying areas, even in locations without nearby rivers.