# Colombo urban flooding and political criticism > Developing situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/colombo-urban-flooding-and-political-criticism > Updated: 2026-11-07T16:16:16.000Z. Sources: 11. Developments: 2. Colombo experienced intense rainfall, with the Department of Meteorology recording 129 millimetres of rain within a few hours. This sudden deluge caused significant flooding in various parts of the capital, submerging main roads and straining urban drainage systems. Following the weather event, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa criticized the National People's Power government, alleging a failure to properly maintain and clean drainage infrastructure. Premadasa argued that the city's current drainage capacity is only designed to handle 30mm of rainfall, whereas recent levels reached approximately 120mm. He suggested that the lack of proper maintenance and waste removal is the primary cause of the emergency, claiming that his party would have implemented modern systems similar to those in Singapore and the Netherlands, including advanced pumping and expanded canals. Premadasa further questioned the administration's ability to manage rainwater and alleged that the government has failed to fulfill economic promises and is attempting to introduce laws that infringe upon basic rights. ## Timeline ### 2026-11-07: Colombo flooding sparks criticism of Sri Lankan government Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa criticized the Sri Lankan government for failing to maintain Colombo's drainage systems following severe flooding caused by heavy rains. 8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/colombo-flooding-sparks-criticism-from-opposition-leader-sajith-premadasa ### 2026-11-06: Colombo experiences intense rainfall and flooding Colombo recorded 129mm of rainfall in just a few hours, leading to significant flooding and submerged roads across the capital. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/colombo-experiences-intense-rainfall-and-flooding --- Cite as: Colombo urban flooding and political criticism. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/colombo-urban-flooding-and-political-criticism