The National Building Research Organisation has issued Level 2 landslide warnings for parts of Galle, Kalutara, Kurunegala and Ratnapura districts and Level 1 advisories across 12 districts, effective 4pm Thursday until 4pm Friday, as heavy rainfall continues over the south-western quarter of the island.
Level 2 alerts, which require residents to remain on standby, were issued for the Neluwa area in Galle District; Agalawatta, Baduraliya, Matugama, Horana and Walallawita Divisional Secretariat divisions in Kalutara District; Alawwa in Kurunegala District; and Pelmadulla and Ratnapura in Ratnapura District.
Level 1 “be alert” warnings cover Divisional Secretariat divisions in Badulla, Colombo, Galle, Kalutara, Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Matale, Matara, Monaragala, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura. Named DS divisions include Bandaragama, Hali-Ela and Passara in Badulla; Seethawaka in Colombo; Elpitiya, Thawalama and Niyagama in Galle; and Ingiriya and Bulathsinhala in Kalutara. The NBRO said a large number of DS divisions in Kandy and Kegalle were also included.
Residents in vulnerable areas were urged to watch for ground cracks, leaning trees, unstable slopes and sudden water seepage, which can precede slope failure.
The updated warnings refine the broader red alert covering 37 spilling reservoirs and rainfall across the western and central districts and the Department of Meteorology’s 150mm-plus pre-monsoon downpour. Floodwater in the Kalu and Gin river basins remains under separate Disaster Management Centre warnings.
