Hambantota Irrigation Engineer Mala Samarakkodi is reported to have mentioned that as three sluice gates have been opened in the Udawalawa Reservoir, residents on both sides of the Ambalanthota Walawa River and those using the river should be careful.
As three sluice gates have been opened one foot each, a water capacity of about 13000 acre feet will be released into the Walawe River, the engineer has said that there may be sudden flooding in the lowlands around Ambalanthota where the Walawe River flows into the sea.
The public is requested to be careful and never wade into the river as there is a possibility of the river overflowing to the areas of Ambalantota Wanduruppa, Bolana, Pattita Harbour, Tawaluwiwala.
He also mentions that the water in the river flows down without any hindrance as the water flows very well at both the places where the Walawe River flows into the sea, Pattiya Harbor and the mouth of the Godavaya estuary.