At a media briefing held on Wednesday Former Minister of Disaster Management, Mahinda Samarasinghe expressed his views on the tragedy.

[quote]We know that in 2011 the NBRO issued a statement to the owners of this estate that this area is prone to landslides. It is unsuitable for estate workers to live there and that these people be relocated. This however was not done. Nevertheless action will have to be taken by the Ministry of Plantation Industries on the NBRO with regard to why the directions were not implemented.[/quote]

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