HYDROPOWER RESERVOIRS SERIOUSLY AFFECTED

Reservoir water level

The Kotmale reservoir had declined from 75.9 million cubic metres to 53.7 million cubic metres Victoria had declined to 17.6 percent of the normal capacity. The capacity of the Rantambe reservoir had declined to 30.8 percent of its normal capacity and the Randenigala to 61.2 percent.

Although intermittent rain has been experienced in several areas in the country the drought in the central hills still persists, thereby affecting the hydropower reservoirs.

A senior official of the Sri Lanka Mahaweli Authority said the catchments of major reservoirs including Kotmale, Victoria, Polgolla, Randenigala

and Rantambe reservoirs had still been affected by the drought. He said the capacity of the Kotmale reservoir had declined from 75.9 million cubic metres to 53.7 million cubic metres and that the capacity of Victoria had declined to 17.6 percent of the normal capacity. The Mahaweli official said the capacity of the Rantambe reservoir had declined to 30.8 percent of its normal capacity and the Randenigala to 61.2 percent.