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3 clusters · 5 sources · 23 days · First seen · Last updated

Landslide risks and rainfall in Sri Lanka

Overview

In late September 2026, heavy rainfall triggered significant landslide risks and geological instability in Sri Lanka.

On September 20, the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) issued Level 3 Red landslide warnings—the highest alert level—for the Kandy, Kegalle, and Nuwara Eliya districts. These warnings were issued due to increased risks of slope failure. Other districts, including Colombo and Ratnapura, were placed under Level 2 Amber warnings.

By September 26, the situation escalated as landslides occurred. In the Nuwara Eliya District, a landslide at the Gartmore Private Tea Estate in the Kalkandai section forced the relocation of 45 people from nine families to a local children’s home. This followed a previous landslide in the same area on September 21. The NBRO continued to issue early warnings for several areas in Nuwara Eliya as rainfall persisted.

On October 12, the National Building Research Institute (NBRI) issued new landslide warnings due to prevailing wet weather. A Level 2 Amber Alert, indicating an elevated risk, was issued for the Kolonna Divisional Secretariat area and parts of the Kegalle District, including Mawanella, Ruwanwell, and Bulathkohupitiya. Furthermore, a Level 1 Yellow Warning was extended to various divisions across the Badulla, Colombo, Kandy, Matale, Nuwara Eliya, and Ratnapura districts. Disaster management authorities have urged residents and motorists in mountainous terrains to exercise extreme caution regarding potential earth slips, slope failures, and rockfalls.

Entities

National Building Research Organisation · Kegalle District · Kolonna · Nuwara Eliya District · Kandy District

Timeline

  1. [INTERNATIONAL] 2 sources
    Sri Lanka landslide warnings issued for Kegalle and Ratnapura districts

    The NBRI has issued Amber and Yellow landslide warnings across several Sri Lankan districts, including Kegalle and Ratnapura, due to heavy rainfall and unstable ground conditions.

  2. [INTERNATIONAL] 2 sources
    Heavy rainfall triggers landslides and evacuations in Sri Lanka and India

    Heavy rainfall in Sri Lanka and India has caused landslide risks and flooding, forcing the evacuation of hundreds of people in the Gartmore Tea Estate and Visakhapatnam district.

  3. [INTERNATIONAL] 2 sources
    Sri Lanka issues highest-level landslide warnings for three districts

    Sri Lanka's NBRO has issued Level 3 Red landslide warnings for the Kandy, Kegalle, and Nuwara Eliya districts due to heavy rainfall, placing residents on high alert for potential ground movement.

Sources

frontpage.lk · hillsidenews.lk · lankanewspapers.com · lankanewsweb.net · newindianexpress.com

This summary has been updated 1 time: see revision history