A landslide has blocked the Nallathanniya-Sri Pada road at Ehela Kanuwa, cutting the main pilgrimage route to Adam’s Peak, as heavy rain continues across the central hills.
Hatton Senior Superintendent of Police Pradeep Weerasekara said a section of slope near Ehela Kanuwa collapsed onto the road in the prevailing wet weather, obstructing traffic. A team has been deployed to clear the debris and restore access. Motorists and pilgrims travelling to Sri Pada via Nallathanniya have been advised to exercise caution until the road is fully cleared.
Nallathanniya Police Station Chief Inspector R. Niroshan told Ada Derana the collapse brought down soil and vegetation from a rock face near the summit, and that the debris landed on the steps leading to the Sri Pada Maluwa. A similar earth slip had occurred at the same spot previously, he said.
The annual Sri Pada pilgrimage season is currently over. Police said local and foreign visitors travelling to the summit during the off-season can still reach the site through the Ratnapura route via Idikatu Pahana. Authorities are expected to clear the fallen debris once the bad weather eases.
Warnings extended for four districts
The National Building Research Organisation has extended Level 2 (Amber) landslide warnings for a further 24 hours, from 9.00 a.m. on Thursday to 9.00 a.m. on Friday.
The Amber warnings cover Divisional Secretariat divisions and surrounding areas in four districts:
- Kandy — Udadumbara, Ganga Ihala Korale, Deltota, Pasbage Korale, Doluwa, Medadumbara, Panwila and Udapalatha
- Kegalle — Yatiyanthota, Bulathkohupitiya, Dehiowita, Aranayaka and Deraniyagala
- Nuwara Eliya — Talawakelle, Ambagamuwa, Norwood, Kotmale East, Kotmale West and Nuwara Eliya
- Ratnapura — Opanayake, Imbulpe and Ratnapura
Level 1 (Yellow) warnings apply to the Kegalle divisional secretariat area and to Nivithigala and Kuruwita in the Ratnapura district. Residents in landslide-prone areas have been told to stay alert and take precautions.
Troops on standby
The Ministry of Defence says tri-forces teams have been placed on standby for disaster response in the Kandy and Nuwara Eliya districts, coordinated with the Disaster Management Centre and the NBRO.
Deputy Minister of Defence Major General Aruna Jayasekara said particular attention was being given to low-lying and landslide-prone areas at Ulapane, Gampola, Nawalapitiya and Peradeniya. The public has been asked to contact the DMC emergency hotline on 117 in an emergency.
The Met Department expects the rainy and windy conditions over the southwest of the island to intensify and persist for several days under an active southwest monsoon, with falls above 100 mm at some places in the Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and the Kandy, Nuwara Eliya and Galle districts.
Update: Hatton-Colombo road cut to one lane at Rozella
A section of the Hatton-Colombo main road at Rozella in Watawala has been placed under close observation after heavy rainfall triggered a risk of road subsidence.
A.M. Sadhik, Executive Engineer of the Norwood Road Office, said the affected stretch has been restricted to a single lane to protect motorists. Drivers travelling between Hatton and Kitulgala have been urged to exercise caution and follow traffic instructions while passing through the area until further notice.
Hiru News reported the subsidence risk as arising from the heavy rain falling on the western slopes of the central hills.
It is the second point on that route to be affected this week. Earth slips blocked the same Hatton-Colombo road at Diyagala on August 3.
Offshore, the Met Department has separately issued a Red warning for the Matara-Pottuvil sea area, valid until 10.00 a.m. on Friday.
Sources: Daily Mirror, Ada Derana, NewsFirst, NewsFirst, Ada Derana, Ada Derana, Hiru News.
