Red alert issued for naval & fishing communities

COLOMBO (News 1st); A red warning has been issued for naval and fishing communities in the deep sea areas by the Natural Hazards Early Warning center, today (18). The red alert is applicable for the sea areas extending from Mannar to Trincomalee via Kankasanturai and the Arabian Sea. Accordingly, the low-pressure area located to the north-east of Sri Lanka in the Bay of Bengal is currently moving westwards and will reach south Andhra Pradesh and adjoining north Tamil Nadu coasts today (18). Meanwhile, the low pressure over east-central Arabian Sea is likely to move west-northwestwards and become more marked during next 48 hours. The Meteorology Department also stated that heavy showers or thundershowers will occur at times in the sea areas extending from Mannar to Batticaloa via Kankasanturai and Trincomalee. Additionally, the wind speed can increase up to (50-60) kmph at times in the sea area extending from Mannar to Trincomalee via Kankasanturai. The wind speed can increase up to (50-55) kmph at times in the sea area extending from Galle to Hambantota via Matara. Naval and fishing communities have been advised not to venture the sea areas extending from Mannar to Trincomalee via Kankasanturai within the next 24 hours, while the naval and fishing communities operating in the other sea areas are advised to be vigilant in this regard.