Sri Lanka remains under a State of Emergency as the government races to contain the devastation caused by days of relentless rainfall, widespread flooding, and landslides across multiple districts.
In a special address to the nation, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said the declaration was necessary to activate the full range of legal safeguards and operational powers required for rapid disaster response and long-term recovery. He assured the public that the emergency would be used solely for disaster management, not for political or repressive purposes.
“When natural disasters occur and they cannot be controlled, the government bears responsibility for the threefold process of disaster and emergency management, restoring normalcy, and improving conditions beyond what previously existed,”
President Dissanayake stated.
The President further emphasized that restoring normalcy—and rebuilding affected areas to a standard “better than before”—was now the government’s foremost duty. He acknowledged that the scale of destruction has stretched national capacities, describing the ongoing effort as the biggest rescue and relief operation in Sri Lanka’s history.
Red-Level Landslide Warnings Across Seven Districts
As rescue teams continue their operations, the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) has issued Level-3 (Red) landslide evacuation warnings for areas in seven districts. The alert, which signifies the highest level of risk, will remain in effect until 4:00 p.m. tomorrow (01).
Communities in high-risk zones have been urged to evacuate immediately and to remain vigilant as saturated soil conditions increase the likelihood of sudden slope failures.
Sri Pada Safe: Chief Custodian Refutes Social Media Rumours
Amid widespread anxiety, social media posts claiming that a landslide had struck the sacred Sri Pada (Adam’s Peak) caused public alarm. However, Venerable Bengamuwe Dhammadinna Thero, the Chief Custodian of the Sri Pada Rajamaha Viharaya, has firmly dismissed these reports as false.
In a special statement, the Thero clarified that the incident circulating online involved fallen trees, not a landslide.
He explained that:
During heavy monsoon periods, trees on the upper slopes of the mountain naturally become uprooted and fall.
This seasonal occurrence took place near the Indikatu Pahana road, which links the Hatton and Ratnapura paths.
No damage has occurred to the Sri Pada slope or the sacred site.
The Chief Custodian urged the public to rely on verified official information instead of unverified online claims.
A Nation Responds in Crisis
With thousands displaced, major roads cut off, and landslide risks rising, Sri Lanka’s emergency services, military, and local authorities are jointly engaged in round-the-clock efforts. The government has pledged that the emergency powers will be directed strictly at saving lives, accelerating relief, and preparing the country for a resilient recovery.
As the island braces for continued heavy rainfall, the next 48 hours will be critical in determining the scale of the humanitarian response needed.
