Rains expose Colombo’s drainage woes

Lankadeepa, Newsfirst (தமிழ்), Newsfirst (සිංහල) and Newsfirst report that the Transport, Highways and Urban Development Ministry found 60 places in Colombo where drainage is blocked or hindered. Newsfirst says a coordinated initiative with several public institutions is under way to reduce flash flooding during heavy rain.

Ada Derana reports that a minister linked recent flooding in Colombo to heavy rain, inadequate drainage and unauthorised construction. Ada Derana (தமிழ்) says the minister addressed flooding inside Colombo Municipal Council boundaries during a briefing on Cabinet decisions held on the 10th; the excerpt does not give a month or year.

Newswire, Hiru News (සිංහල) and Newsfirst report that the Colombo Municipal Council plans legal action against unauthorised buildings or other structures connected to flooding. Newsfirst says the council described some affected areas as vulnerable even in light rain and identifies the Director of its Water Supply and Drainage Division in its report.

Daily Mirror reports that opposition MP S. M. Marikar criticised Mayor Vraie Cally Balthazar over the city’s drains, saying they had not been cleaned despite earlier warnings of heavy rain. The outlet says he called for her to resign or be removed.