Koslanda Catastrophe
Remove earth mount immediately after NBRO green light, says President
President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday ordered to remove the huge earth mound that had buried nearly 200 people and 63 houses following the earth slip on Wednesday at Haldummulla only after the National Building Research Organization (NBRO) inspected the site and gave the green light to go ahead.
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He observed the area last morning from a helicopter and met the displaced taking refuge at the Koslanda Tamil School and Punagala School.
President Rajapaksa responding to a request from the people to remove the earth and rocks brought down by the earth slip said if they were removed in a haphazard manner, there was a possibility of causing further slides.
During a discussion with officials, President Rajapaksa instructed them to provide safe alternative lands immediately to displaced persons and prepare a special programme to ensure the protection of children who had lost their parents due to the tragedy.
He told officials to pay particular attention towards the welfare of children who had lost their parents as unscrupulous elements would come forward claiming to be their parents with ulterior motives as witnessed during the tsunami.
President Rajapaksa said it was the responsibility of officials to relocate people from disaster prone areas before a tragedy occurs and estate authorities must heed the instructions given by officials to save the people from a disaster. He added that lives of innocent people cannot be sacrificed to ineptness and irresponsibility of those who must take care of them.
Ministers Arumugam Thondaman, Mahinda Amaraweera, Uva Chief Minister Shashindra Rajapaksa, Parliamentarians Namal Rajapaksa, Uditha Lokubandara, Rohana Pushpakumara, Presidential Chief of Staff Gamini Senarath, Security Forces Commander – Central Province, Mano Perera, Badulla District Secretary Kirthi Dissanayaka and Provincial Minister Sendil Thondaman accompanied President Rajapaksa during the visit.