The National Building Research Organization (NBRO) has issued a warning that, amid the ongoing inclement weather, a planned chemical blast at the site in Kadugannawa, along the Colombo–Kandy Road, could further aggravate the already unstable land conditions, Transport Minister Bimal Rathnayake said.
The Minister made these comments in Parliament, where he updated the House on the latest situation in Kadugannawa, where a landslide claimed six lives.
“The advice for now is that at the 98th kilometre mark of the road, we have observed a depression in the road area. We hope to rebuild this section. Based on NBRO advice, we hope to open at least one lane for traffic,” the Minister said.
The Minister added that a wider overhaul is necessary and that the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau (GSMB) has already been consulted in this regard. A drone survey of the affected area is also underway, he said.
“The Kadugannawa situation is a serious one. We hope to open one lane for traffic within a day or two. However, there is a bigger issue. We will discuss the matter with the President along with the final reports,” he said.
Earlier, Rathnayake said authorities were considering a chemical blast to clear large boulders following the landslide at Pahala Kadugannawa on Saturday. The road closure on the Colombo–Kandy main road, he added, cannot continue indefinitely.
The plan to clear debris would be implemented in consultation with the NBRO and the Road Development Authority and is expected to take at least two days. (Newswire)