Colombo, 09 June 2014, (source-IWMI Situation Report)

Beginning of extreme rainfall from June 1, 2014 in Western Province has significantly reduced on 5th June 2014. Comparing both the days suggest a decrease in rainfall from 6mm/day to 8mm/day in WP. There is also a shift in rainfall behavior from WP to Central and Eastern Province as observed on bottom image with an average rainfall of less than 7mm/day. Decrease in rainfall intensity from the Western Province due to the monsoonal shift from Southwest to Northeast towards India. Please note that the TRMM products are not validated against meteorological stations, there might be over or under estimation of rainfall. The information and views set out in this rainfall product are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official opinion of the International Water Management Institute.

By :Giriraj Amaranath in Colombo, 06 Juney 2014, (IWMI)

During the days of 31 May - June 4,2014 considerably higher than normal monsoon precipitation in Sri Lanka particularly the Western and Southern Province. Massive flooding was reported in the districts of Kalutara, Ratnapura and in parts of Colombo, Galle and Matara. Approx. 4 to 6 time increase in the accumulated rainfall compared to the 2013 and 2014 for the same period. For example the Kalutara district received an average accumulated rainfall of 303mm from 31 May - 4th June in 2014 compared to 56mm in 2013. This comparison shows that the monsoon rains in 2014 were heavier and covered a much larger area than for the same period of time in 2013.

At least 22 people were killed and about 27,243 persons from about 7,500 families were displaced by the heavy rains that lashed several parts of the country in the past few days, the Disaster Managemen Centre said. The low lying areas of Kaluthara District, such as Agalawatta, Palindanuwara, Bulathsinhala,Matugama, Welipenna, Pelawatte, Omantha have been submerged by floods and hundreds of families have been affected (reliefWeb Sources)

So this tragic flooding event is one apparently due to intensification of the water cycle - a common pattern seen in climate modeling as global temperatures increase - causing an increase in atmospheric humidity and precipitation.

By DMC – Colombo, 09 Juney, (www.dmc.gov.lk)

Many areas in low lying areas of Kalutara, Rathnapura, Galle Matara, have been flooded due to the torrential rainfall received since 01st June 2014. Totally  104476 of people have been affected as per the reports of District Disaster Management Coordinating Units (DDMCU).