Colombo, Dec 24: The National Building Research Organization (NBRO) on Tuesday cautioned the public against visiting landslide-prone areas, warning that the risk of slope failure remains high despite the lifting of red alerts following a reduction in rainfall.
NBRO geologist Suminda Ratnayake said unstable ground conditions persist in areas affected by recent landslides, noting that even limited rainfall could trigger fresh incidents.
Accordingly, two-stage landslide alerts have been issued for several Divisional Secretariats in the Kandy District, including Ududumbara, Medadumbara and Minipe, as well as in the Nuwara Eliya District, covering Walapane, Nildandahinna, Mathurata and Anguranketha.
In addition, stage one alerts are currently in force for 31 Divisional Secretariats across the districts of Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Badulla, Matale and Kurunegala, the NBRO said.
“Even a small amount of rainfall in these disaster-hit areas can destabilize mountain slopes, leading to potential landslides,” Ratnayake warned.
The NBRO urged residents and travelers to closely monitor weather forecasts issued by the Meteorological Department and adhere to official landslide advisories.
Authorities also stressed that the easing of alert levels does not signal the end of danger. All development and construction activities in vulnerable zones must be inspected by qualified officials and carried out in line with recommended safety standards, they added.
