Rains flood Colombo roads

Duplication Road and several other major roads in the city were submerged yesterday due to flash floods caused by torrential showers.

The flooding of a part of the busy Duplication Road caused heavy traffic jams, making vehicular traffic impossible.

Duplication Road from Bambalapitiya junction to Bagatale Road was inundated, the National Disaster Management Centre said.  A severe traffic jam was reported south of Colombo city. Some vehicles were seen stuck in flood waters.

The National Centre for Disaster Management advised motorists to use alternative roads.

However, the road was clear by late in the evening, sources said.  The floods in the capital are largely due to the obstruction of smooth flow of rain water in the draining ditches and canals by unauthorised constructions on the sides of the canals and improper bridges and culverts, the Government says.  The Government is to launch a massive project this year to solve the flood problem in the Colombo city.