The damage caused to property as a result of flooding and landslides following the extreme weather conditions experienced in the last few days runs into millions of rupees. The death toll is over 23.
This damage could have been minimized if appropriate measures were taken to prevent the disaster through early detection
It was after a considerably dry climatic spell that heavy rains were suddenly experienced in several Districts due to an atmospheric disturbance before the onset of the Southwest monsoon season. The hardships experienced by the people with the unexpected falls were immense.
House and property were washed away while people had to watch helplessly. Families and houses were buried alive by landslides. Although the rainfall was unexpected were the disasters faced by the people unexpected?
It has now been reported that many houses and properties that were devastated had been identified as prone to danger and the occupants had been warned to vacate them.
Warnings due to threat of landslides and floods had not been issued only to houses. Other structures such as parapet walls and incline had also been identified as places prone to danger. The parapet wall of a house at Pothu-arawe in Talangama which caused the death of two persons in Malambe is reported to have been identified as a danger area. An old couple in a house near the 18 foot parapet wall which is reported to have been built irregularly, died on the spot due to its collapse on the house.
It was revealed before the judiciary that the doctor who built the parapet wall had been informed on several occasions of the danger that was looming and requested by the old couple not to build it. The act of negligence had not only destroyed valuable property. The time has come to prohibit through the enforcement of law such negligent activities which take away innocent lives.
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