Pilgrims are reportedly using the road despite the National Building Survey Institute warning that the road should be closed to pilgrims until the landslides on the Hatton Sri Pada road are repaired.
The National Building Survey Institute has informed that the land in the Mahagiridamba area is extremely unstable due to the landslide and therefore the area is unsafe. Accordingly, the institute has instructed the Ratnapura and Nuwara Eliya District Secretaries to take steps to ensure the stability of the road, says Senior Geologist Dr. Wasantha Senadheera.
He said that after a field inspection of the landslide site, necessary instructions were given for the reconstruction of the site, and accordingly, instructions were given to build a side wall to stop the flow of water and to fill the unstable rock crevices with a cement mixture.
Minister of Buddhism and Religious Affairs Hiniduma Sunil Senavi says that travel on the Hatton road has been restricted to motorists and that the Army and Navy have been entrusted with the repair of the landslide sites.
Army Media Spokesperson Brigadier Waruna Gamage says that the soil that fell on the road at the landslide site has been removed, but due to the recent rains, the soil layer in the Mahagiridamba area has eroded.
Ratnapura District Secretary Udara Nanayakakara says that pilgrimages are being carried out only via Palabaddala and Kuruwita roads.