Research carried out by Asian Development Bank – ADB along with the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) says that, the link between climate change and extreme climatic weather patterns indirectly contributes to the extreme rainfall experienced in Sri Lanka especially during the South West Monsoon Season.
However, each year the country scrambles in search for an effective forecast and flood management system each year, owing to the lack of a tried and tested method.
It is identified that the low lying areas of the major rivers of Ging, Kalu, Nilwala and Kelani are more likely to be affected by floods. Certain tributaries of these rivers are unable to bear the sudden increase in the volume of water brought on by monsoon rains.
The Department of Irrigation says that an effective method to mitigate flood related incidents is by widening bottlenecks in the major rivers.