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by Florence Wickramage

With tears streaming down his face 70 year old Vastuwa told this writer, "fifteen members of my family died in the landslide. All my brothers and sisters and their children got buried in the mud. Only me and my wife were left. It is useless bringing in loads of relief. Tell the authorities to give us a place to live".

Ranmenike joined in and said, "They tell us to vacate our houses. Where are we to go? We need a place to stay with our children. A roof above our heads is all that we need now".

Vastuwa continued, "We had been informed that the place we live was prone to landslides. But since we had no other alternative, we built our little houses, planted coconut trees, jak trees and tilled our land. Now there is nothing left. If we are given safe places to live we will never go there again".

This was the wish of nearly 500 people being housed in a large hall of the Sri Ratnakara Vidyalaya, Uda Niriella in the Ratnapura district.

R.A. John Appuhamy said, "This is the worst flood Ratnapura ever experienced. The water rose above the hood of my house... more than 15 ft high. There is complete destruction". David said. "My house completely went under water. I and two of my friends lived on top of a huge rock for three days, with absolutely no food and drinking flood waters, straining the muddiness with the clothes we wore".

The scene was absolute destruction. Reaching Ratnapura we witnessed the havoc caused by angry floods which left thousands desolate and hundreds dead... either buried in the landslide or drowning in the flood waters. We saw plastic and polythene and other garbage hanging from branches of trees or stuck on fences as high as 15 feet. People were drying their furniture, mattresses, clothes and whatever they were able to retrieve... spread out in open places under the sun. A string of lorries and other vehicles transporting "flood relief" passed us on our way to Ratnapura.

A group of us journalists were on our way to Wellawaya on assignment to cover an event of the Upper Watershed Management Project. Since we were passing Ratnapura, there was general consensus that we visit the landslide area at Palawela. Professor Kapila Dahanayake, Senior Professor of Geology of the Peradeniya University too accompanied us.

Palawela

We reached the village of Ambepura in Palawela and parked our vehicles near a temple which was being washed and cleaned up by the villagers, since a drive through was not possible due to thick layers of mud. Thereafter climbing uphill on a rugged pathway and wading through a streamlet (for me attempting to cross over the makeshift bridge of planks was risky) we reached the landslide location passing through a rubber estate. On several places either side of the gravel road, children's exercise books were seen strewn, the writing blotched by mud marks and the scrap books in tatters.

The scene of devastation was covered with a large expanse of mud and rubble. There was absolutely no trace of the village and the vegetation. Layers of thick mud covered acres of land. Huge trees uprooted by the ferocious winds were seen at several places along with huge boulders which had come rolling down the mountain slopes. The landslide had completely buried around 38 houses in this little village along with most of their inmates. Those who survived are provided refuge in the school.

Villagers on the spot said that the landslide had taken a queer turn. The location of the village had been on the basin of two mountains situated on either side, similar to an overturned triangle. The landslide had dashed against the mountain opposite to it and had then settled on the village. The action had been so sudden that there was no hope of escape for anyone living in the houses.

Professor Kapila Dahanayake told me that at Elapatha, man had disturbed an ancient landslide for a period of 15 years. This meant that the earth was highly unstable and already a landslide site. Professor Dahanayake had brought with him material which provides information regarding landslides, their occurrences, the symptoms which precedes landslides and how landslides could be prevented. He distributed these leaflets among villagers who had gathered to witness the devastation there and also to those taking refuge in the school.

Relief

There is definitely a need for streamlining distribution of relief goods. We noticed several lorry loads arriving at the vicinity of the temple where people queued up to receive food and clothing. I was keenly watching the distribution and noticed the very same people coming into receive relief goods over and over again. Residents we spoke to in affected houses complained that they do not receive relief goods because these are channelled to one particular location. We also noticed several relief-lorries parked on the wayside and distributing bottles of water, food parcels and clothing.

When queried whether they were satisfied with the relief-aid received, Cicilin told me, "There are a lot of diseases spreading due to the floods. As such medical attention should improve. At present there is a dearth in granting medical attention to the affected people".

Ratnapura

Slight rains commenced over Ratnapura on May 16 which increased in proportion on the 17th and rained incessantly for over 30 hours. By noon on the 17th the We-Ganga started spilling over and the Kalu Ganga started rising. This was followed by the Kuru Ganga and Hangamuwa Ganga which too kept on rising.

"We noticed the flood waters getting muddy and saw a difference in the flow of the waters through our village. I took my children and went over to my relations' house which was further from the village. In the afternoon I heard that the landslide had occurred. "Deiyanta pin denna oney apiwa beragattata" (should invoke merit on the Gods for saving us) Karunawathie told me.

The landslide at Ambewela village at Palawela is considered a record instance which had taken the heaviest toll on human lives in floods and landslides ever.

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