The National Building Research Organization (NBRO) has issued critical landslide early warnings across twelve districts in Sri Lanka, effective from 14:30 hours on November 25, 2025, to 14:30 hours on November 26, 2025. The comprehensive alert covers major population centers and vulnerable mountainous regions, emphasizing the urgent need for residents to remain vigilant during this high-risk period.
Affected Districts and Warning Levels
The Landslide Early Warning Center has designated Level II warnings for the districts of Badulla, Colombo, Galle, Hambantota, Kalutara, Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Matale, Matara, Nuwara Eliya, and Ratnapura. These areas represent both densely populated urban centers and geologically vulnerable hill country regions where landslide risks are significantly elevated due to current weather conditions.
Level II warnings indicate a moderate to high risk of landslide occurrence, requiring immediate attention from local authorities and heightened awareness among residents. This classification suggests that atmospheric conditions, combined with geological factors, have created an environment where slope failures could occur with minimal additional triggering factors.
Geographic Vulnerability and Risk Factors
The affected districts span diverse geographical terrains, from the coastal areas of Colombo and Galle to the mountainous regions of Nuwara Eliya and Kandy. This widespread distribution highlights the extensive nature of the current weather system impacting Sri Lanka's landslide-prone areas.
Districts like Ratnapura and Kegalle, historically known for frequent landslide incidents, face particular challenges due to their steep topography and heavy rainfall patterns. Similarly, urban areas such as Colombo, while less traditionally associated with landslides, contain numerous slopes and embankments that become unstable during prolonged wet conditions.
The hill country districts of Badulla, Kandy, Matale, and Nuwara Eliya are especially vulnerable due to their elevation, steep gradients, and soil composition. These areas often experience rapid water accumulation that can quickly saturate soil layers, leading to sudden slope failures.
Safety Measures and Precautions
Residents in the affected districts should immediately implement safety protocols and remain alert to environmental changes. Key warning signs include unusual water seepage from slopes, cracks appearing in ground surfaces, tilting trees or utility poles, and sudden changes in water flow patterns in streams or wells.
Local authorities recommend avoiding areas near steep slopes, retaining walls, and embankments during the warning period. Residents living in high-risk zones should prepare emergency evacuation plans and maintain communication with local disaster management officials.
Construction activities, particularly those involving excavation or slope modification, should be suspended until conditions improve. Road users should exercise extreme caution when traveling through mountainous areas and avoid routes known to be landslide-prone during adverse weather conditions.
NBRO's Monitoring Systems
The National Building Research Organization employs sophisticated monitoring systems to track conditions that contribute to landslide formation. These include rainfall measurement networks, soil moisture sensors, and geological stability assessments that provide real-time data for accurate warning dissemination.
The organization's early warning system integrates meteorological data with geological surveys to predict potential landslide events. This comprehensive approach enables authorities to issue timely alerts that can significantly reduce casualties and property damage when slope failures occur.
Community Response and Preparedness
Effective landslide risk management requires active community participation and awareness. Residents should familiarize themselves with local evacuation routes and emergency contact numbers. Community leaders play crucial roles in disseminating warning information and coordinating response efforts.
Educational initiatives about landslide recognition and response have become increasingly important as climate change intensifies weather patterns that contribute to slope instability. Regular drills and community preparedness programs help ensure rapid, organized responses when warnings are issued.
Long-term Risk Management
Sri Lanka's susceptibility to landslides necessitates ongoing investment in monitoring infrastructure and risk reduction measures. The current warning system represents part of broader efforts to protect communities through early detection and rapid response capabilities.
Sustainable land use planning, proper drainage systems, and slope stabilization projects contribute to long-term landslide risk reduction. These measures, combined with effective early warning systems, form comprehensive strategies for managing geological hazards in vulnerable areas.
As the 24-hour warning period progresses, residents across the twelve affected districts should maintain heightened awareness and follow guidance from local authorities. The NBRO continues monitoring conditions and will update warnings as circumstances change, ensuring communities receive timely information to protect lives and property from potential landslide events.