The Department of Meteorology has forecast increased rainfall across the southwestern parts of Sri Lanka over the coming days due to a developing depression in the Bay of Bengal.The depression, located over the east-central Bay of Bengal and adjoining southeastern areas, has intensified into a deep depression centred near latitude 15.3° North and longitude 89.7° East.The system is expected to develop into a cyclonic storm today (26) and further intensify into a severe cyclonic storm over the west-central Bay of Bengal by tomorrow.Although the system is not expected to directly affect Sri Lanka, the island may experience increased rainfall as winds drawn towards the system pass across the country.According to the Department, heavy showers or thundershowers, with rainfall exceeding 100 mm at times, are likely in some areas of the Northern, Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, North Western, Central and North Central provinces, as well as the Trincomalee District.Showers or thundershowers may also occur at several places in the Uva Province and the Ampara and Batticaloa districts after 1.00 p.m.Meanwhile, strong winds reaching speeds of 40–50 km/h may occur at times over the western slopes of the central hills, as well as in the Northern, North Central and North Western provinces and the Trincomalee and Hambantota districts, the Department of Meteorology said.