Demolition of massive rock boulders on A5 road in Lunugala begins

By Prasad Rukmal

Colombo, July 6 (Daily Mirror) - The demolition of what is considered the largest rock mass to have collapsed on a roadway in Sri Lanka has commenced in the Lunugala 13 Kanuwa area (143 km post) along the Badulla–Chenkaladi A5 Road, officials said.

Executive Engineer (Badulla) of the Road Development Authority, S.S. Hennayake, said today (6) that removal operations are now underway to clear the large boulders that have blocked the stretch for nearly two years.

According to Hennayake, around 4,000 cubic metres of rock collapsed in the area in 2024, followed by a further 1,500 cubic metres in 2025, forming what he described as the largest known accumulation of fallen black rock mass obstructing a roadway in the country.

He said chemical blasting methods will be used to break down the rocks before removal, adding that the clearance operation is expected to be completed within a month, ahead of the onset of the rainy season.

He added that the removed rock material will be reused for future development projects carried out by the Road Development Authority, helping to reduce public expenditure.

The rockfall site in the Lunugala 13 Kanuwa area has previously been the scene of several fatal accidents, with authorities noting that the obstruction has posed a long-standing danger to motorists and disrupted traffic along the A5 route.