• Constructions including houses, hotels to be scrutinised

The National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) said that it is planning to carry out a survey on the Hanthana Mountain Range and its surrounding area in the Kandy District where there is a large number of houses and hotels. 

Some people have constructed houses on Hanthana using good engineering technology while others have not, and the latter houses would be vulnerable to landslides, the NBRO’s Director General Dr. Asiri Karunawardena told The Daily Morning. Fielding questions, he said that after carrying out necessary mitigation, resolving the many issues that arose following Cyclone Ditwah, the NBRO would carry out the said survey in the Hill Country and in several other areas which require safety assessment. He said that not only Hanthana but other areas like Ella would be assessed on whether the constructions are safe or not. However, these will be carried out with the collaboration of stakeholders such as the Urban Development Authority and the relevant Local Authorities.  “An assessment would be carried out and the people would be advised upon their findings – especially if their constructions are hazardous and dangerous, and on how to take remedial measures to make it a safe location”.