Minor tremor in several areas

Rasika Somarathna

A minor earth tremor was felt in many parts of the country including Colombo, Bandarawela, Badulla, Nuwara Eliya, Hatton and Ratnapura areas around 9.52pm on Saturday, Geological Survey and Mines Bureau (GSMB) sources said.

The Disaster Management Centre said no damages or casualties were reported. The sources said the tremor was felt in two of their centres in Pallekelle and Hakmana.

A Bureau official said the magnitude of the tremor could not be measured accurately as it was minor and was felt only in two centres. He said it measured around 2.0 on the Richter Scale.

“If the tremor had been felt in three or more centres, a much accurate reading could have been given,” he added. The official said the tremor had not been felt in any other neighbouring country and added it was difficult to ascertain whether it was generated from within the country or off shore. A minor tremor was felt in many parts of the hill country on May 20 as well.