The former journalist now reading for a doctorate at a Malaysian university has told BBC Sandeshaya that certain areas of Colombo district would go under water not just during heavy rains, but during normal rains as well.

Blocked drains, effects of development and construction activities and overflow of rivers could lead to flooding in the district.

In the Colombo city, it is mainly due to blocked drains, while an area like Kaduwela gets flooded as a result of blocked water bodies, and Kelaniya area faces river overflows, she said.

She said she did not believe any of the major projects undertaken in recent history had been based upon any environmental impact assessment.

Chandrasena described as incomplete the development projects that could not withstand the nature’s reactions, like in the case of the Kaduwela outer circular highway.

She stressed that there should be a permanent national policy on development that did not change when governments changed.

Urban beautification and urban development are two different things, she said.