Landslides continue in Hanguranketha

COLOMBO (News 1st) - Landslides continue to be reported from the Athgaala mountain in Dodangolla, Hapuwala in Hanguranketha. It continues despite dry weather conditions. As a result, a land mass of around 7 acres has caved in. Local residents complain that the children have no way of getting to school due to this. The rapid erosion has also disrupted the flow of traffic along the Hapuwala -Rikillagaskada road. Several attempts made throughout the day by the Hanguranketha Pradeshiya Sabha to restore the road to normalcy proved futile. Speaking to News 1st Chairman of the Hanguranketha Pradeshiya Sabha Ranasinghe Dissanayake said that none of the efforts were successful because the erosion continues to occur and that there is no option other than closing the road. He said that after notifying the district secretary the locals were evacuated to safer areas. Officials from the District Secretariat and the National Building Research Organisation arrived at the location for an inspection yesterday (November 12). Although 15 individuals residing in four houses were identified as prone to risk our correspondent reported that they are yet to be evacuated. Meanwhile, the Acting Director of the NBRO (Landslide Studies Unit) Dr.Gamini Jayatissa,  a Snr. Geologist said that the peak of this mountain consists of the rock type marble which has cavities which are now filled with mud. He explained that due to the rain over the past few days the mud has burst through the cavities and is currently flowing down the mountain. Dr. Jayatissa added that they have already taken steps to implement a community-based landslide warning management system in order to protect 15 families residing in medium risk areas.