May 18, Colombo (LNW): The National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) has issued early warnings for potential landslides across six districts in Sri Lanka, urging residents to exercise heightened vigilance in the coming days.
The alerts issued today (18) apply to the districts of Colombo, Galle, Kalutara, Kandy, Kegalle, and Ratnapura—regions known for their vulnerability to slope instability during periods of intense rainfall.
The NBRO cautioned that prevailing weather conditions could give rise to landslides, slope and rock failures, subsidence, and embankment collapses.
Authorities have advised those living in hilly or low-lying areas, especially near steep slopes or recent construction zones, to be on alert for early warning signs such as cracks in the soil, tilting trees or utility poles, unusual sounds from the earth, or sudden changes in water flow.
Local disaster management teams and Grama Niladhari officers have been instructed to monitor high-risk zones closely, with preemptive evacuation being considered in particularly exposed areas if rainfall intensifies.
The Department of Meteorology has also indicated that prevailing wet conditions could continue, especially in the south-western part of the country.
The NBRO has called on the public to follow official bulletins, refrain from travelling through high-risk roads during heavy rain, and report any early signs of ground movement to local authorities without delay.
Residents are also encouraged to remain updated via NBRO and Disaster Management Centre (DMC) channels, and to prepare emergency kits and evacuation plans as a precaution.
