A Brief Colonial History Of Ceylon(SriLanka)
Sri Lanka: One Island Two Nations
A Brief Colonial History Of Ceylon(SriLanka)
Sri Lanka: One Island Two Nations
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Thiranjala Weerasinghe sj.- One Island Two Nations
?????????????????????????????????????????????????Sunday, May 14, 2017
M'mulla residents at risk as rains could cause flooding
2017-05-13
There was an imminent risk of another landslide taking place as a result
of flooding that could take place in the vicinity of the Meethotamulla
garbage dump site due to the monsoon rains that were expected to begin
soon, the Movement Against the Meethotamulla Garbage Dump warned
yesterday.
Speaking to the Daily Mirror, President of the Movement, Nuwan Bopage
said the area was yet to see any form of restoration after the tragedy
which occurred during the Sinhala and Hindu New Year.
“The main canal is still blocked by garbage and mud and the drainage
system has not been restored as yet. The area is not stable yet and
therefore there is a chance of another landslide or flooding in the
area,” he said.
Soon after the tragedy the National Building Research Organization
(NBRO) had warned residents and the public against visiting the dump
site. Residents in several pockets close to the mountain had also been
asked to relocate as they were living in a high risk zone.
However, Bopage said the authorities were trying to relocate residents
unnecessarily. “Measures have not been taken to clear out the canal or
restore the drainage system in the area. They want people to relocate
instead,” he said.
NBRO officials had warned that heavy rains would lead to the garbage
mountain absorbing the water making the mountain dangerous again. “If
the drainage system is not looked at and the canal is not cleared it
will only lead to a flood situation,” Bopage stressed.
Confirming the possibility of a tragedy taking place, the NBRO stated
that heavy rains expected would increase the risk of another landslide
in the area.
“The change in the weight of the mountain could lead to another
landslide. We have removed residents in the immediate vicinity who would
otherwise have been living in the high risk zones,” NBRO Director R. M.
S Bandara said.
Steps to deal with the garbage dump site would be formulated after local
and foreign agencies complete their studies at the site. However,
Bandara warned that there was a probability of another landslide
occurring soon and requested residents to be vigilant.
The tragedy last month killed 32 individuals and affected 1,703 more. (Yoshitha Perera & Thilanka Kanakarathna)