Recurring landslides likely to harm lives and damage homes

Sri Lankans living in areas at risk of landslides are being told to remain vigilant with the onset of monsoon rains.

On the night of March 19, heavy rain resulted in a landslide near the Poonagala Hospital, Bandarawela, causing injuries to residents, and damage to commercial and residential property. Three people were injured, three houses were completely destroyed and another 20 houses were partially damaged.

A total of 220 people from 62 families in the Kabaragala section of the estate managed by the Maskeliya Plantation were impacted by the landslide. There was substantial damage to the Poonagala Hospital.

This week, a slope failure accompanied by debris flow near Macaldeniya school and Tamil kovil in Macaldeniya upper division, Haldummulla in Badulla was reported. Houses of estate workers (line rooms) and the estate road were buried in mud.

“There is a tendency for old landslides to recur in fairly heavy rainfall. Unplanned development, improper water management, non-engineered construction and road widening projects are main contributing factors for landslides, slope failures, rock falls, cutting failures, and ground subsidence,” said H.M.L. Indrathilake, senior geologist of the NBRO’s landslide division.

Heavy rainfall this week badly affected families in Hanguranketha and Ambagamuwa areas in Nuwara Eliya. Residents of Ganga Ihala Korale in Kandy district and Kalawana and Elapatha in Ratnapura were issued with a landslide early warning as well.

“Those residing in landslideprone areas in Ratnapura, Kegalle, Kalutara, Galle, Kandy and Nuwara Eliya should be extra vigilant due to rains in the coming weeks. There will be more south-westerly rains,’’ he said, noting that residents should take preventive measures.

An earthship and rockfall on Kandy-Mahiyanganaya road near the second bend of the 18 hairpin bend this week, prompted local authorities to frequently close and reopen the road.

“The rocks will be blasted and removed. However, a mitigation design is in the planning to avoid further damage especially during heavy monsoonal rains,” Mr Indrathilake said.

The highest deaths in recent years were recorded in 2016 and 2017 when 217 and 107 lives, respectively, were lost to landslides. Early evacuation has helped to reduce the loss of lives, with seven dying in 2020 and 13 in 2021, respectively.

This week, the Cabinet approved the vesting of the 566 acre Hineford Estate in Nawalapitiya to the Land Reform Commission. Out of this, 200 acres is to be given for victims of floods and landslides and residents of high risk zones.