Fresh landslide risks trigger evacuations in some areas

• DMC says floodgates of several major reservoirs were opened

By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana 

Evacuation orders were issued yesterday for residents in several high-risk areas as heavy rainfall triggered landslide warnings and forced the opening of spill gates at major reservoirs, raising concerns that Sri Lanka may be on the brink of another natural disaster. 

These developments come amid the government’s long-term reconstruction plans, which include constructing new roads, bridges, and schools. The government has also announced plans to relocate vulnerable communities. 

Residents in Medadumbara, Deluwa, Ududumbara, and Minipe in the Kandy District, as well as Hanguranketa, Nildandahinna, Walapane, and Mathurata in the Nuwara Eliya District, were ordered to evacuate due to a high risk of landslides. The warnings were issued by the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO). 

According to reports, Udunuwara in Kandy recorded 201 mm of rainfall, while most other areas in the affected districts received more than 100 mm by Thursday evening. Rattota in the Matale District recorded 121 mm of rainfall, while Nuwara Eliya received 69 mm. 

The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said that floodgates of several major reservoirs—including Polgolla, Victoria, Randenigala, Rantembe, Deduru Oya, Senanayake Samudra, Kala Wewa, Rajanganaya, Nachchaduwa, and Angamuwa—were opened, posing a significant flood threat downstream. 

Several roads in Badulla, Matale, Kilinochchi, Kegalle, Anuradhapura, and Polonnaruwa Districts have already been blocked due to flooding and landslides. Train services on multiple routes—including Colombo–Puttalam, Mahawa–Kankesanthurai, Mannar–Medawachchiya, Polonnaruwa–Batticaloa, and Rambukkana–Badulla—have been disrupted. Minister of Transport Bimal Ratnayake informed Parliament that several unsafe roads and bridges would need to be completely rebuilt rather than repaired. 

The Minister announced that construction of 14 new roads is scheduled to begin in January 2026. 

According to the DMC, the government is currently responsible for assisting 22,096 families housed in 723 temporary relief camps across the country.