Repair work is under way at the Ambatale flood protection embankment along the Kelani River after seepage was detected during recent flooding, Newswire reported.
The embankment is designed to prevent river water from overtopping into surrounding areas during periods of high water levels. As the Kelani rose during the recent flood, water passed through soil layers within one section of the embankment, although officials determined there was no immediate risk of a structural breach. The incident raised concerns among nearby residents, and the Disaster Management Centre advised people to move to safer locations, though some initially stayed in their homes.
Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development Bimal Rathnayake and Deputy Minister Eranga Gunasekara visited the site, met affected residents and assured them that a permanent technical solution would be implemented. Residents were subsequently relocated to safer locations.
The Sri Lanka Land Development Corporation (SLLDC) conducted preliminary engineering and geological assessments and referred the case to the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) for technical recommendations. After field inspections, the NBRO recommended a package of remedial measures including the installation of Reno mattresses, geotextile materials and improved drainage systems to protect the lower slope and strengthen overall stability.
The rehabilitation work is now under way with the stated aim of preventing future seepage, improving the structural integrity of the embankment and enhancing protection for communities along the Kelani basin during high-river conditions.
The Ambatale incident sits within the broader monsoon-driven pressure on the Kelani system that has continued through June, including active flood warnings on the Kalu Ganga tributary Kuda Ganga and rising levels in the Kelani, Nilwala and Gin rivers. The Ambatale crossing is also a strategic node in Colombo’s water supply, sitting upstream of the Ambatale water treatment plant that serves much of the capital — a vulnerability flagged in the President’s mid-May review with the Urban Development Authority on long-term Kelani flood mitigation.
