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Eight districts issued landslide warnings

11 Apr 2022

  • 1,309 people from 269 families in Ratnapura, Colombo Districts affected 
The National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) has issued landslide warnings for a total of eight districts, and advised the public to be watchful of possible slope failures, rock falls, cutting failures, and ground subsidence, given nearly a full day of rain in many areas islandwide. Accordingly, the NBRO has issued level one (yellow) landslide warnings to a total of six Divisional Secretariat (DS) Divisions in the Badulla District, namely, Badulla, Bandarawela, Ella, Haldummulla, Hali Ela, and Welimada, since the rainfall in those areas had exceeded 75 millimetres on 10 April.  Landslide warnings have also been issued to the Padukka and Seethawaka DS Divisions in the Colombo District; the Agalawatta, Bulathsinhala, Dodangoda, Ingiriya, Mathugama, Palindanuwara, and Walallawita DS Divisions in the Kalutara District; and the Ganga Ihala Korale, Gangawata Korale, and Ududumbara DS Divisions in the Kandy District.  In addition, level one landslide warnings have been issued to the Bulathkohupitiya, Yatiyanthota, Dehiowita, Deraniyagala, Ruwanwella, and Warakapola DS Divisions in the Kegalle District; the Alawwa, Mawathagama, Narammala, Polgahawela, and Rideegama DS Divisions in the Kurunegala District; the Laggala Pallegama, Matale, Rattota, and Ukuwela DS Divisions in the Matale District; and the Ambagamuwa, Kotmale, and Walapane DS Divisions in the Nuwara-Eliya District. During the landslides early warning period, the NBRO advised the public to pay attention to the development of cracks on the ground and ground subsidence, the slanting of trees, cracks in the floors and walls of buildings which are built on and at slopes, the sudden appearance of springs and emerging muddy water.  “People should move immediately away from the areas where they notice such signs of landslides,” the NBRO stated. It also announced that the people living in landslide susceptible areas should be extra vigilant and be ready to move to safe places if the rainfall continues. Meanwhile, the Disaster Management Centre stated that a total of 1,309 persons belonging to 269 families in the Ratnapura and Colombo Districts have been affected due to the inclement weather conditions. Among them, a total of 187 persons belonging to 45 families are staying at three safe centres.  


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