806 people evacuated in Badulla due to landslide threat

By Mangala Pavithrani

Colombo, December 11 (Daily Mirror) - Badulla District Secretary Prabath Abeywardena says 806 residents from 238 families have been evacuated across the district due to the heightened risk of landslides triggered by the onset of the northeast monsoon.

Speaking to the media, he said the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) had advised authorities to move affected communities to safer locations as heavy rains continued across the district.

“Fourteen out of the fifteen Divisional Secretariat Divisions in the Badulla District were affected. A total of 129 people from 50 families in Kalukelle were moved to safety centres due to an active landslide,” Abeywardena said.

Evacuations were also carried out in multiple high-risk areas:

Swarnathota Division: 157 people from 60 families

Uva Paranagama Division: 127 people from 40 families

Rideemaliyadda Division: 139 people from 50 families

Meegahakivula Division: 158 people from 35 families

Hali Ela Division: 87 people from 18 families

Ella Division: 148 people from 34 families

Abeywardena confirmed that all evacuations were completed yesterday (10), ensuring residents in high-risk zones were relocated to designated safe shelters