Due to the continuous torrential rains in the Northern Province, 36 tanks under the administration of the Provincial Irrigation Department have begun overflowing, and several tanks are facing the risk of breaching. Emergency precautionary measures have been taken with public safety in mind, said Eng. T. Rajakobu, Provincial Director of Irrigation – Northern Province.
Below are the key details from the situation report issued today – on Friday, 28 November 2025, at 9:00 a.m.
# Intense rainfall has been recorded in the Mankulam and Vavuniya areas – According to the 24-hour data up to 9:00 a.m. today:
* Mankulam: 378.5 mm
* Muththaiyankattu: 342 mm
* Vavuniya: 340 mm
* Semamadu: 135 mm
# The water level of the Iranamadhu Tank has reached 26′-10″. As the inflow is increasing rapidly, eight spill gates were opened from 6:00 a.m. today to prevent potential danger to the tank and flooding downstream. Currently, water is entering the tank at a rate of 6.281 million cubic meters per hour. If the water level reaches 28′-6″, the remaining six gates will also be opened.
# Due to heavy rainfall, several tanks in the Vavuniya District are at risk of breaching:
Pampaimadu Tank: With 34 inches of excess water overflowing, the tank was at risk of breaching. To protect the bund and reduce danger, a section of the bund leading to the spill channel was cut yesterday.
Kanakarayan Kulam and Aliyamaruthamadu: These tanks are also at risk of breaching; therefore, the sluice and embankment areas are being cut to release water.
Vavunikulam (27′-10″) and Therankandal tanks are overflowing. The water level of Muththaiyankattu Tank has reached 23′-00″ (92%), and the spill gates have been opened.
Out of 54 medium and major tanks, 36 tanks are currently overflowing.
Officers have been dispatched to the Thannimurrippu, Madawalasingham, Maruthamadu, and Kanukkeni tanks, but communication has been disrupted due to telecommunication failure, the irrigation Director added. Engineers and technical officers are engaged in continuous monitoring.
