December 09, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka’s Disaster Management Centre (DMC) has instructed District Secretaries to move residents from areas vulnerable to landslides in Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, and Matale to officially designated safe shelters, as severe weather continues to batter the country.
The directive follows the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) issuing Level 3 (Red) landslide warnings—the highest alert level—amid persistent, destabilising rainfall. According to the NBRO, numerous locations across the four districts have been categorised as high-risk, prompting what officials describe as an urgent need for preventative relocation.
Under the DMC’s instructions, evacuations are to take place between December 09 and 19, with the aim of ensuring that at-risk families are moved well ahead of any potential slope failures.
Authorities anticipate that the operation—described by officials as one of the more extensive pre-emptive evacuations in recent years—will involve close coordination among District and Divisional Secretaries, NBRO specialists, Grama Niladharis, the Sri Lanka Police, and several other state bodies.
The areas currently under Level 3 (Red) alerts are:
Kandy District: Hatharaliyadda, Yatinuwara, Udadumbara, Pathahewaheta, Medadumbara, Pasbage Korale, Deltota, Poojapitiya, Ganga Ihala Korale, Panwila, Gangawata Korale, Udapalatha, Harispattuwa, Kundasale, Minipe, Doluwa, Thumpane, Akurana, Udunuwara, Pathadumbara and adjacent localities.
Kegalle District: Kegalle, Galigamuwa, Mawanella, Bulathkohupitiya, Aranayaka, Yatiyanthota, Rambukkana, Warakapola and neighbouring villages.
Kurunegala District: Mawathagama, Mallawapitiya, Rideegama and surrounding settlements.
Matale District: Naula, Wilgamuwa, Pallepola, Ambanganga Korale, Laggala Pallegama, Ukuwela, Rattota, Matale, Yatawatta and nearby communities.
Meteorological officials, meanwhile, warn that the intensifying north-east monsoon is likely to bring intermittent showers or thunderstorms throughout the day (09) across the Northern, North-Central, Eastern, Central, and Uva provinces.
Meril Mendis, Deputy Director of Weather Forecasting and Disaster Management, stated that the unsettled weather may persist until December 19, 2025, raising concerns about further ground instability and the potential need for additional emergency measures.
In light of the prolonged downpours, local authorities have urged residents to comply promptly with evacuation orders and to avoid travelling through hilly terrain where slopes remain saturated and unpredictable.
