Sri Lanka, May 20 -- The southwest monsoon is gradually establishing over the island, the Department of Meteorology announced in a statement.

Showers or thundershowers will occur today at times in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, and Northwestern provinces and in the Galle, Matara, Kandy, and Nuwara Eliya districts.

Fairly heavy showers above 50 millimetres may occur at some places, and several spells of showers may occur in the Northern province and in the Anuradhapura and Hambantota districts, according to the statement.

Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in the Uva province and in the Batticaloa and Ampara districts after 2.00 p.m.

Fairly strong winds up to 30 to 40 kilometres per hour will blow at times over the western...