COLOMBO, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka is facing heavy rains due to a depression in the Bay of Bengal that has killed one and threatens to expand into a cyclone in the northern part of the country, the Meteorological Department said here on Monday.
The island, which has been facing a severe drought for the past five months, was relieved at the commencement of monsoon rains in September, but has had to face new challenges from the deluge.
A 26-year-old woman was killed when an earth mound collapsed on her on Sunday in the southern town of Galle.
Landslide warnings were issued by Sri Lanka's Disaster Management Centre last week while the Meteorological Department cautioned fishermen against venturing out to open sea over the weekend.
Record high rains were recorded from many parts of the country.
On Monday trains on the coastal line were disrupted after a power line fell across the railroad with passengers stranded for hours.
"People in the northern part of the country have been warned of the potential cyclone and urged to remain indoors or find safe locations to wait it out," Meteorological Department spokesman R. Perera told Xinhua.
He added that the severe rains could continue well into next week.
Many roads in the capital Colombo were flooded as torrential rains continued unabated for the third successive day.
Authorities have also warned of possible flood situation should the rains continue.
The only positive seems to be the increase in water for hydro- power generation.
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