Following the major landslide in the Pahala Kadugannawa area which occurred on Saturday (22), the Sri Lanka Army launched an immediate search and rescue operation. Troops of the Eighth Battalion of the Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment launched this operation following the landslide.

A statement issued by the Army said: “The incident occurred around 0900 hrs. in the Ganethanna Grama Niladhari Division (Mawanella Police Area). The landslide caused total destruction to a house and a hotel in the vicinity. Troops assisted in the immediate evacuation of two injured civilians to the Mawanella Hospital.”

Noting that a military contingent conducted clearance operations to locate missing persons believed to be trapped under the debris, the statement added that reinforcements were also provided to augment the rescue efforts.