Extended study into Kandy Termors on Minister's instructions

GSMB Chairman Anura Walpola speaking to News 1st said Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera had instructed them to conduct the study with respect to the tremors reported in recent times in areas around the Victoria Reservoir.

04 termors were reported on Saturday (07), from the Kandy district.

However, only one of those tremors had taken place beneath the earth's surface, said GSMB Chairman Anura Walpola.

The minor tremor was recorded only on two Seismic Stations located in Pallekale and Mahakanadarawa.

GSMB Chairman Anura Walpola said the sensors on the Dam of the Victoria Reservoir do not record tremors that take place beneath the earth's surface.

Incidentally, the three other tremors reported in Kandy were recorded by the sensors on the Dam of the Victoria Reservoir and not at any seismic station.

Therefore, these tremors could be those which took place on the earth's surface, said the GSMB Chairman.

However, these events will not be taken lightly and experts from various sectors will be called in to conduct an extended study on the tremors, said Anura Walpola.

Accordingly, the University of Peraniya, The Geological Survey and Mines Burea as well as the Sri Lanka Mahaweli Authority will assist in the process.

A committee that studied the incidents reported earlier cited dolomite quarrying, use of detonators for construction, tectonic behavior, rock bursts, and rapid water level changes in the Victoria reservoir as possible reasons for the tremors.

Anura Walpola said the report will be taken into account for the study and steps will be taken in accordance to the recommendations made by the new team of researchers.