Maldives Meteorological Service (MET Office) has sent out weather warning across the country, after a tropical depression formed on the east side of the country, near Sri Lanka.

A statement issued by the office on Sunday noted that the depression is slowly moving towards the west, and that heavy rain and thunderstorms are expected in some atolls in the next 48 hours. Seas are expected to be rough as well, it said.

Met Office cautioned all to wary of prevailing weather conditions.

In November 2017, a monsoon depression formed near Sri Lanka resulted in heavy rain and thunderstorms in the Maldives, with Met Office issuing a number of weather alerts to various parts of the country.