The Sri Lanka Land Development Corporation and the Colombo Municipal Council have launched special operations to clear blocked canals and drainage systems following severe flooding in several parts of Colombo.
The operations, which began on Saturday, focus on removing accumulated waste, silt and other obstructions to improve the flow of rainwater.
The identified locations include:
– Serpentine Canal in Dematagoda
– Torrington Canal
– Dehiwala Canal
– Canals around Colombage Mawatha and Kirulapone
The measures follow heavy rainfall on Friday evening that caused flash floods across Colombo, disrupting traffic, businesses and daily activities.
According to the Department of Meteorology, Colombo received 129 mm of rainfall within a few hours, while the Disaster Management Centre recorded 146.6 mm in Thimbirigasyaya.
The sudden downpour exceeded the capacity of the city’s drainage infrastructure, contributing to widespread flooding.
Other contributing factors include unregulated land reclamation, blocked natural waterways, accumulated waste and silt, and inadequate maintenance of certain drainage systems.
Authorities have emphasised that clearing existing blockages alone will not provide a permanent solution.
Long-term measures will require expanding drainage capacity, protecting natural waterways, controlling unauthorised construction near canals and ensuring regular maintenance of drainage infrastructure. (Newswire)
