Removal of all buildings at 5,000ft. elevation in the central hills not feasible

By Shane Seneviratne

Colombo, Dec. 22 (Daily Mirror) - Former Senior Professor of the Geological Science at the Faculty of the Peradeniya University Athula Senaratne, said the decision to remove all constructions in the hill country at an elevation above 5,000 feet would affect the country’s economy and the tourism sector.

He told the media that Nuwara Eliya town is at an elevation of 5,000 feet above the sea level and that the removal of tea industry and other trades would result in serious consequences.

Prof. Senaratne pointed out that as an alternative mechanism to avoid he danger of landslides abandoned land in the central hills could be used for afforestation projects, and that the abandoned tea estates should be used for afforestation as a pilot project.

He said a feasibility study with attention on the condition of soil layers should be carried out before implementing afforestation projects in areas with boulders.