Officials from key State agencies warn that the full scale of the damage to the national road and connectivity networks remains unknown as of last evening (29), as continuous rainfall and flooding continue to hamper assessment efforts.
With several bridges washed away and major roads blocked by earthslips, fallen debris, and submerged surfaces, authorities say immediate priorities remain life-saving operations and restoring minimal access to isolated regions.
Communication and power failures have emerged as major roadblocks to coordination.
Disaster Management Centre (DMC) Spokesman Pradeep Kodippili confirmed that the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) was still working to restore power in multiple districts. He noted that the breakdown of telecommunication networks had slowed the flow of critical information.
“The CEB is coordinating efforts on electricity disruptions,” Kodippili said, adding that communication interruptions had significantly affected the ability to evaluate the scale of the disaster.
While some mobile service providers have begun repair work, many flood-affected zones remain effectively cut off, with submerged equipment, damaged infrastructure, and a lack of road access preventing full restoration.
Adding to these challenges, DMC Mitigation Research and Development Division Director Anoja Seneviratne confirmed that the centre had been unable to quantify the full extent of damage due to severe communication breakdowns. She explained that teams were currently relying on satellite imagery to understand the scale and nature of the destruction.
“At this moment, we have not been able to estimate the full damage; we are primarily assessing the impact,” she said. “It is very difficult to quantify the damage because communication networks have been severely disrupted. We are analysing satellite images and we have initiated a rapid damage and needs assessment, but we are still in the immediate response phase.”
Seneviratne added that disaster relief financing had already been mobilised, noting that the Government had allocated Rs. 1.2 billion, with an additional Rs. 3 billion from the contingency fund.
However, she stressed that comprehensive details on regional infrastructure failures remained unavailable, as officials on the ground were struggling to communicate.
“Their equipment batteries are dead and there is no power. Therefore, I am not in a position to answer these questions in detail at this moment,” she noted.
Transport and engineering officials report that damage to the country’s road network is widespread and severe. Large sections of critical highways have cracked or collapsed; some bridges have been swept away and many local roads remain impassable due to fallen trees, landslides, or flood debris.
In one of the most dramatic setbacks, the Moragahakanda Laggala Bridge, a key connection along the Moragahakanda-Hettipola Road (B312), was completely washed away by raging floodwaters.
The bridge had served as a vital link between Matale, Polonnaruwa, and Kurunegala, supporting agricultural transport and access to the Moragahakanda Reservoir, the largest reservoir under the Mahaweli Development Project. Its collapse has stranded thousands and disrupted both transport and supply chains tied to the reservoir.
In addition to Moragahakanda, the floods have claimed other major bridges including the Elahera Bridge and the Kumara Ella Bridge, severing vital routes and isolating communities across Matale, Polonnaruwa, Kurunegala, and Uva, regions central to agriculture, trade, and relief transport.
Engineering and transport authorities caution that offering a reliable estimate of repair costs or restoration timelines is impossible at this stage. The havoc wrought by flooding and landslides must first subside before a comprehensive assessment can begin.
Road Development Authority (RDA) Chairman T. Paskaran acknowledged the severe level of destruction. “Many bridges and roads have been damaged. The cost is expected to be very high,” he said. “Major roads and bridges have collapsed and restoring access to different places is currently our biggest priority.”
Similarly, National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) Director – Environmental Studies and Services Division H.D.S. Premasiri stressed that future reconstruction must account for more extreme hydrological pressure.
“Many structures collapsed because the original structure could not withstand the speed of water brushing against the bridge. Future reconstruction will demand designs resilient to extreme hydrological events,” he said.