Srilanka

Commuting trains to upcountry has been disrupted as a mound of earth collapsed on to the railway line between Bandarawela and Diyatalawa railway stations at around 3.45 a.m. this morning (20).Owing to the situation, Badulla-bound Night Mail train, which set off from Colombo last night, was commuted up to Diyatalawa railway station while the Colombo-bound train, which departed from Badulla railway station, was stopped at Bandarawela railway station.The railway workers and army personnel attached to the Diyatalawa camp along with the officers of Bandarawela Police are making joint efforts to restore the railway services on the upcountry line.

The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) yesterday (19) gazetted the Maximum Retail Price (MRP) of two varieties of rice.As per the extraordinary gazette notification, white and red Samba, as well as white and red Nadu, cannot be offered or displayed for sale above the MRP.This measure was taken under the powers vested on the CAA by Section 20(5) of the Consumer Affairs Authority Act, No. 09 of 2003.Accordingly, the MRP of the two varieties of rice is as follows:White / Red Samba (steamed/boiled) Rs. 98/- per kg (Excluding Keeri Samba and Suduru Samba)White / Red Nadu (steamed /boiled) Rs. 98/- per kg (Excluding Mottaikarupan and Attakari)

Showery condition over the island, particularly in the south-western part of the island is likely to enhance to some extent today. Cloudy skies can also be expected over most parts of the island.Showers or thundershowers will occur over most parts of the island.Heavy falls about (100-150) mm are likely at some places in Western, Sabaragamuwa and Central provinces and Galle district.Fairly heavy falls about (75-100) mm are likely at some places in Eastern, Uva and North-western provinces and Matara district.Misty conditions can be expected at some places in Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces during the morning.General public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.

The National Building Research Organization (NBRO) has issued landslide early warnings for certain locations of potential risk in Matale, Kandy and Nuwara Eliya districts. Level 3 (Red) warning has been issued for the following areas:

Matale District - Laggala and Pallegama divisional secretariat divisions and surrounding areas Kandy District - Ududumbara divisional secretariat divisions and surrounding areasNuwara Eliya District - Walapane divisional secretariat divisions and surrounding areasSince the rainfall within the past 24 hours has exceeded 150 mm in these areas, if the rains continue, residents are advised to evacuate to a safe location to avoid the risk of landslides, slope failures, rock falls, cutting failures and ground subsidence.Meanwhile the NBRO has issued a Level 2 (Amber) warning for Wilgamuwa, Yatawatta, Matale, Pallepola and Naula divisional secretariat divisions and surrounding areas, in Matale District.Residents of the aforementioned areas are requested to be on alert on the possibility of landslides, slope failures, rock falls, cut failures and ground subsidence, being ready to evacuate to a safe location if the need arises, if the rains continue.