• 494 landslide-prone sites inspected 
• Red evac. notices to Kandy/K’galle/K’gala/Matale extended, 800+ evacuated in Badulla over landslides risk, previously unaffected Rideemaliyadda also evacuated along with denizens of Kalukele, Soranathota, Uva Paranagama, Meegahakivula, Hali-Ela, Ella
• Main Kandy-N’Eliya rd. restored, India restores OFC network for Mahiyanganaya, Kandy
• Cab. approves Rs. 25k for cleaning religious venues, recommencing their activities 
• 85,351 from 26,841 fams in 873 temp. shelters/centres 

The National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) has inspected a total of 494 landslide-prone sites following recent heavy rainfall. The public has meanwhile requested inspections for an additional 2,198 locations.

Meanwhile, although weather conditions have improved, Level Three (Red) Landslide evacuation warnings remain in effect for 37 Divisional Secretariat (DS) Divisions (Udapalatha, Gangawata Korale, Udadumbara, Doluwa, Minipe, Pathahewaheta, Medadumbara, Deltota, Akurana, Ganga Ihala Korale, Pathadumbara, Yatinuwara, Thumpane, Udunuwara, Harispattuwa, Poojapitiya, Pasbage Korale, Panwila, Hatharaliyadda, Kundasale, Mawanella, Rambukkana, Aranayaka, Bulathkohupitiya, Yatiyanthota, Rideegama, Mallawapitiya, Mawathagama, Naula, Rattota, Ambanganga Korale, Ukuwela, Wilgamuwa, Yatawatta, Matale, Pallepola and Laggala-Pallegama) across four Districts (Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala and Matale). Warnings have been issued due to continuous soil saturation caused by the recent heavy rains and the activation of the North-Eastern monsoon.

A total of 806 individuals belonging to 238 families in the Badulla District have been evacuated from their residences due to the risk of landslides. The Badulla District Secretary Prabath Abeywardena said the decision was taken on the advice of the NBRO, as the activation of the North-Eastern monsoon has brought heavy rainfall. The evacuations took place on Wednesday (10), moving the affected people to safe locations. Out of the 15 Divisional Secretariat (DS) Divisions in Badulla, around 14 have been affected by the disaster. The Rideemaliyadda Division, which previously remained unaffected, has also now been impacted. “Due to a landslide on the Kalukele mountain, 129 individuals from 50 families were moved to safe centres. In the Soranathota Division, 157 people from 60 families, in Uva Paranagama, 127 people from 40 families, in Rideemaliyadda, 139 people from 50 families, and in Meegahakivula, 158 people from 35 families, had to be evacuated due to landslide threats. In the Hali-Ela DS area, 87 people from 18 families, and in Ella, 148 people from 34 families were also evacuated. Altogether, 806 individuals belonging to 238 families were removed from their homes.”

The Met Department said that showers or thundershowers will occur at times in the Northern and North-Central Provinces and in the Puttalam and Trincomalee Districts today (12). Several spells of showers will occur at the Central and Uva Provinces and in the Kurunegala, Ampara and Batticaloa Districts. Showers or thundershowers are expected to occur at several places in the Western and Sabaragamuwa Provinces and in the Galle and Matara Districts after 1 p.m. Misty conditions can be expected at some places in the Sabaragamuwa, Central and Southern Provinces during the early hours of the morning. The general public is requested to take adequate precautions to minimise damages caused by temporary localised strong winds and lightning during thunderstorms. Showers are also expected to occur at several places in the sea areas off the coast of Puttalam, Pottuvil, Mannar, Kankesanthurai (KKS) and Trincomalee. Showers or thunderstorms may occur at a few places in the other sea areas around the island during the evening or night. Winds will be North-Easterly, with wind speeds expected to range between 30-40 kmph. However, the wind speed can increase up to 50-55 kmph at times in the sea areas off the coast extending from Colombo to Mullaittivu via Puttalam and KKS. The sea areas off the coast extending from Colombo to Mullaittivu via Puttalam and KKS will be rough at times. The other sea areas around the island will be moderate while temporary strong gusty winds and very rough seas can be expected during thunderstorms.

The Nuwara Eliya District Secretary Thushari Tennakoon said that four access roads, including the main Kandy-Nuwara Eliya road, which were blocked due to earth slips and landslides due to the recent heavy rainfall, have now been restored. Speaking at a media briefing held at the Nuwara Eliya District Secretariat on Wednesday, Tennakoon stated that the restored roads will be opened to heavy vehicles based on the recommendations of the NBRO. The Nuwara Eliya-Kandy main road, which had been closed to traffic due to landslides, has been reopened after several days. The road had been affected by major landslides in several areas, including Katukithula, Thawalantenna, and the Ramboda Falls. The Army Engineers Corps and the Road Development Authority have taken measures to restore the road and to open one lane for light vehicles, she added. However, the Police are urging motorists to drive with caution along this route and to avoid stopping in landslide-prone areas.

Also, following the destruction caused by Cyclone Ditwah in Sri Lanka, the Integrated Task Force of the Shatrujeet Brigade of the Indian Army on Wednesday restored an essential communication infrastructure in one of the worst-affected areas near Kandy. A major disruption had occurred in the Mahiyanganaya region, where the cyclone severely damaged the optical fibre cable (OFC) network, triggering a widespread communication blackout. The team reached the affected stretch of the OFC route where a fallen tree had damaged the line near the base transceiver station tower close to the Indian Army Field Hospital. Through precise OFC splicing and technical expertise, the team restored connectivity to both civil and operational networks. This operation reinstated the primary communications ring in Mahiyanganaya.

Moreover, the Cabinet of Ministers has, regarding cleaning the religious venues affected by the calamity and to assist in the commencement of the activities of those religious venues, decided that it is appropriate to assist to clean all the religious places that were affected by the calamity that occurred due to extreme weather conditions and to grant relief to normalise their routines. Accordingly, the Cabinet granted approval to the proposal submitted by the President as the Finance, Plan Implementation and Economic Development Minister to provide an allowance of Rs. 25,000 for cleaning and normalising the religious venues for rituals and to allocate the necessary provisions required for the activities to the Buddha Shasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Ministry.

Overall, a total of 85,351 individuals belonging to 26,841 families affected by recent landslides and flooding across the country are currently housed at 873 temporary shelters and centres, the Disaster Management Centre noted.