Rainfall Not Striking Catchment Areas

By Dinouk Colombage

Despite the recent rainfall experienced in Colombo and its surrounding suburbs the catchment areas are still to receive substantial levels, according to the director of the Department of Meteorology L. Chandrapala.  He said that while the South-Western monsoons are in effect, they are only occurring along the coastal belts, “Colombo, Negombo, Galle and other coastal cities have received substantial rainfall in the past week. The catchment areas have also received rain, but it is not enough to alleviate the current drought.”  Chandrapala added that he was confident that the inter-monsoon period, which is expected at the end of September, would see an increase in the rainfall in those regions which are experiencing a shortage. “We will have to wait till that period before we see a noticeable change,” he said. Currently the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) is generating only 25% of hydro power; according to the director of the CEB Dr. Wimaladharma Abeywickrama the power generation should be at least 40%. He refused to comment on why the CEB had suspended the power cuts, but added that it was not because of the recent rainfall.