The Department of Meteorology has warned that there is now a 90% chance the current El Niño conditions will intensify into a very strong event by the end of the year.

Director General of the Met Department Ajith Wijemannage said forecasts indicate this year’s El Niño could be stronger than any experienced in the past 75 years.

Addressing the media, Wijemannage  noted that the phenomenon is steadily intensifying, adding: “Global forecasts show that by the end of this year, the likelihood of a very strong El Niño is more than 90 percent. Compared with El Niño events since 1950, the probability of this year’s El Niño being stronger than all of them is currently forecast at nearly 70 percent.”

Wijemannage further said that a notable increase in body temperature has been observed among people in the North, North-Central, and North-Western provinces, as well as in the Monaragala and Hambantota districts. 

However, an increase in body temperature has not been noted much in the Western and Sabaragamuwa Provinces due to intermittent rain conditions. 

Meanwhile, the Irrigation Department reported that water levels in reservoirs under its control have dropped to 37 percent, urging the public to use water sparingly. 

Director of Water Management, Engineer H.N.P.S.D. Herath said the current volume is expected to be sufficient for the Yala season and until the November–December rains arrive.

At the same time, the National Water Supply and Drainage Board confirmed that water treatment plants across the island are operating at 100 percent capacity. 

Water Board Chairman Chandana Bandara said supply has not been reduced despite dry conditions in several districts, though more than 56 percent of reservoirs under the Irrigation Department have shown reductions in water levels. (Newswire)

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The Director General of the Department of Meteorology Ajith Wijemanna says the current rainy weather will ease by tomorrow afternoon (04).

Addressing a special media briefing held today, Ajith Wijemanna said that the rainy weather will continue in the Kandy and Nuwara Eliya Districts, and the Sabaragamuwa Province tonight and tomorrow morning. 

However, the rainy weather will ease after tomorrow afternoon, he said. 

The Director General of the Met Department further said that, however, a typhoon over the Pacific Ocean south of Japan is expected to influence Sri Lanka from around August 06.

He said this will result in a few days of rain with strong winds after August 06 in the Western, Central, and Sabragamuwa Provinces and the Kandy and Nuwara Eliya Districts. (Newswire)

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The Department of Meteorology has appointed A.L.K. Wijemannage as the new Director General of the department.

According to the Met Department, his appointment is effective from 03 July 2026. 

Wijemannage officially assumed duties today (06). (Newswire)

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The Department of Meteorology has warned that if El Niño conditions develop during the southwest monsoon season, Sri Lanka could face a prolonged drought lasting until September.

Speaking at a media briefing held today (09), Additional Director General of Meteorology Ajith Wijemanna stressed the need for strict water management across all sectors, including drinking water and irrigation, under such circumstances.

He noted that the prevailing hot weather is expected to continue throughout April, with some relief anticipated after the southwest monsoon begins around May 20. 

However, he cautioned that significant easing of the current heat may only occur by the third week of May.

Wijemanna further explained that if El Niño persists during the southwest monsoon, rainfall in June, July, and August could be reduced, extending dry conditions until September.

He urged authorities and the public to pay special attention to water conservation and management in the coming months. (Newswire)

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A deep depression developed in the Bay of Bengal could make landfall in Sri Lanka tomorrow between the Hambantota and Kalmunai areas, according to Director General of the Department of Meteorology, Athula Karunanayake.

Addressing a special media briefing on adverse weather conditions, Athula Karunanayake said the deep depression could enter Sri Lanka by around 05.30 pm tomorrow (09 Jan). 

He further noted that the deep depression is currently located about 350 kilometres southeast of the Pottuvil area on the island’s eastern coast.

Accordingly, fishermen and the naval community have been advised to refrain from venturing into the sea due to rough seas and strong winds. 

Athula Karunanayake also noted that under current circumstances, the rainy weather conditions in the country could increase, especially in the Eastern and Uva provinces, with over 100mm of rain expected. 

He said between 50 – 75 mm of rain can be expected in several areas today, while strong winds of about 50-60 kmph can be experienced in some areas, including in Colombo.

Clarifying that there were no signs of the deep depression developing into a cyclone, he added that, however, if it enters Sri Lanka, it would intensify, increasing the rainy weather in the country. (Newswire)

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Opposition MP Dayasiri Jayasekara claims the Director General of the Department of Meteorology is under house arrest.

Addressing the Parliament today, MP Jayasekara said that the Met Department Director General is not even allowed to speak to his own daughter.

MP Jayasekara pointed out that the Department of Meteorology and Disaster Management both fall under the purview of the President. 

“I challenge the DG to conduct a media briefing at the Defence Ministry. He has been placed under house arrest. This is because this government is afraid he might reveal something. Some have asked him to resign. But he has refused, as he would be considered to have committed a mistake. Please don’t do this to state officials,” the MP further said. (Newswire)

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The Department of Meteorology states that the rumours spreading about a possible new cyclone in Sri Lanka in the coming days are false.

Meteorologist Malith Fernando said that while rainy weather conditions can be expected on December 4th and 5th, no significant impact is anticipated.

Meanwhile, health authorities have requested parents not to take children to view flood‑affected areas.

Specialist at Lady Ridgeway Children’s Hospital, Dr. Deepal Perera, emphasized that following floods, various diseases may spread, and therefore, children’s safety must be protected. (Newswire)

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The Cabinet has approved awarding the consultation services contract to the Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre in Thailand, for the modernisation of services of the Department of Meteorology under the Climate Resilience Mitigation Multi-Stage Approach (CResMPA) funded by the World Bank.

The government says the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land, and Irrigation is implementing CResMPA.

As such, supporting national development by reducing the potential damage from natural disasters through accurate early warnings and modernising the weather- and climate-related services of the Department of Meteorology has been identified as the priority function under component 1 of the first phase of the project. 

Accordingly, expressions of interest were invited to select a consulting institution per the World Bank Procurement Guidelines for the modernisation of the Department of Meteorology’s services, and eight institutions submitted their expressions of interest. 

Based on the recommendations of the Consultation Procurement Committee appointed by the Cabinet of Ministers, the proposal presented by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land, and Irrigation to award the relevant consultation services contract to the Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre in Thailand was approved by the Cabinet. (Newswire)

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The Department of Meteorology has requested the public not to fall victim to false weather news shared on social media and other websites. 

Issuing a statement, the department said several false weather forecasts on Sri Lanka are being circulated on social media at present.

The Met Department urged the public to pay attention and follow the weather forecast officially broadcast by the department. 

The official weather forecast can be found via https://meteo.gov.lk or https://www.facebook.com/SLMetDept/. (Newswire)

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The Department of Meteorology has issued a heat alert to 16 districts, effective until tomorrow (09 Apr).

Per the advisory, the heat index, the temperature felt on the human body, is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ during this period. 

The heat index is expected to increase in some places in the Northern, North-central, Eastern, North-western, and Western provinces and the Monaragala district.

As such, people may experience fatigue with prolonged exposure and activity, while continuing activity could result in heat cramps. (Newswire)

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The official website of the Department of Meteorology has been hacked once again.

It is reported that measures are underway to restore the website.

This is the second instance in a short span of time the website has been hacked.

The official website of the Met Department was previously hacked on 01 November 2024. (Newswire)

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The Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Readiness Team (SL CERT) says the Department of Meteorology’s official website, which underwent a cyberattack last week, is being restored.

According to SLCERT, the cyberattack was reported on November 01, which resulted in the disruption of the website’s services.

Providing an update on the incident, SLCERT revealed that the cyberattack was detected due to certain changes on the Met Department’s official website.

SLCERT further said that preliminary investigations indicate that no data was accessed or stolen by external parties.

SLCERT added that following initial investigations, measures are currently underway to restore the website. (Newswire)

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Sri Lanka’s Meteorology Department has taken measures to strengthen its weather forecasting system, in light of the continuous impacts the nation faces due to the seasonal inclement weather conditions. 

Speaking to the media, Met Department Director General Athula Karunanayake said at present, the department can only predict up to 150mm of rain.

He said, therefore, steps have been taken to obtain a Doppler weather radar, which is a type of radar used to locate precipitation, calculate its motion, and estimate its type (rain, snow, hail, etc.). 

Athula Karunanayake said Sri Lanka expects to receive the Doppler system soon and it is to be received as a gift from Japan under the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

He added that by receiving the Doppler weather radar the Met Department can inform the expected rainfall before the rains begin and can predict over 450mm of rain. 

The Met Department Director General also revealed that as the existing weather forecasting system is insufficient, measures have been taken to upgrade it. 

Athula Karunanayake said preparations have been made to commence the upgrade with the assistance of the World Bank. (Newswire)

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The Department of Meteorology says thundershowers are expected in several areas in the afternoon or night today.

The department said several spells of showers will also occur in the Eastern and Uva provinces and in the Polonnaruwa and Matale districts. 

Showers or thundershowers will occur at several places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Northwestern and Southern provinces and in the Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts during the afternoon or night. 

Fairly heavy showers above 50mm are likely at some places in the Western and Sabaragamuwa Provinces. 

Misty conditions can be expected at some places in the Western, Central, Sabaragamuwa and Uva provinces during the morning. 

Meanwhile, several spells of showers will occur in the sea areas off the coast extending from Pottuvil to Trincomalee via Batticaloa. 

Showers or thundershowers will occur at several places in the sea areas off the coast extending from Puttalam to Galle via Colombo during the night. 

Winds will be north-easterly and wind speed will be 25-35 kmph. Wind speed may increase up to 40 kmph at times in the sea areas off the coast extending from Kankasanthurai to Colombo via Mannar and Puttalam and from Galle to Pottuvil via Hambantota. 

The sea areas off the coast extending from Kankasanthurai to Colombo via Mannar and Puttalam and from Galle to Pottuvil via Hambantota will be fairly rough at times. The other sea areas around the island will be moderate. (NewsWire)

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