Search operations continued for a third day Friday to find those missing in the landslide which occurred in Koslanda. Five bodies have been pulled out from the rubble thus far.

The Disaster Management Centre says it is possible that more than 100 people are still missing. A group of 500 army and air force personnel are assisting with the rescue operations.

Sniffer dogs were also used to find bodies in the rubble. The search teams were able to retrieve five bodies on Friday morning.

Due to the inclement weather conditions, search operations have proved to be challenging. Meanwhile, several towns including the city of Colombo have expressed grief for those who lost their lives in the Koslanda tragedy.

White flags were hung in a number of areas in the Nuwara Eliya district while estate workers refrained from carrying out duties. Our correspondent noted that the estate workers have donated a day’s worth of wages to those who have been affected by the landslide.

Meanwhile, a number of stores in the city of Colombo were closed on Friday evening. Students from the Swami Vipulananda Institute which is affiliated with the Eastern University in Batticaloa carried out a candle light vigil for the victims of the Koslanda landslide.

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