The Mavil Aru sluice is under pressure due to heavy inflows from the Mahaweli River, Director General of Irrigation Ajith Gunasekara said.
An immense volume of water is currently flowing downstream through the Mahaweli River, exceeding its capacity and contributing to rising flood levels, Gunasekara said.
While authorities do not anticipate the sluice will fail, the area remains fully inundated, preventing inspection teams from accessing the site, he added.
Residents in low-lying areas near the sluice have been advised to stay alert and evacuate to safer locations if possible.
An update on the situation is expected by tomorrow morning after Navy and other teams are deployed to the area. (Newswire)