Kukule Ganga spillway gate opened: People asked to be on alert

The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) yesterday warned people residing in the low-lying areas of the Kukule Ganga dam to be vigilant as one of its spillway gates had been opened due to heavy rains.

DMC Assistant Director Pradeep Kodippili told the Daily Mirror that the sluice gate was opened as considerable amounts of rain fall received in the reservoir’s catchment areas were increasing the water level.

He said the gate was opened around 5.30 pm releasing some 30 cubic metre of water per second (m3s−1 ).

It was reported that the reservoirs inflow was around 90 m3s−1 by yesterday evening while the turbines receive some 80 m3s−1 inflow of water capacity.

However when contacted, Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) Media Spokesman Sulakshana Jayawardana said only a flap gate was opened to release the additional heavy water flow.

He said as the water level remained in 90 m3s−1 there was no necessitate for opening the Spillway gate as it was sufficient to open the flap gate therefore people need not panic unnecessarily fearing a flood situation.

The Kukule Ganga Dam is a 110 m (360 ft) gravity dam built across the Kukule River in the Sabaragamuwa Province of Sri Lanka which feeds an underground hydroelectric power station therefore operated by the CEB.