Tremors in Ampara

Nimal Wijesinghe- Anuradhapura Additional District group correspondent

Two minor tremors were experienced in the Ampara district last morning after a lapse of nearly five weeks. A team of geophysicists and geologists were dispatched by the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau( GS & MB) to Ampara to conduct surveys and tests to ascertain the scientific reasons for the vibrations which frightened the villagers.

A series of tremors were experienced in Wadinagala in the Ampara district in December last year.

Due to the torrential rains experienced in Ampara, investigations were put on hold. GS MB Chairman Dr N P Wijayananda referring to yesterday's incidents told the Daily News that the two vibrations measuring 2.7 and 3.2 on the Richter scale respectively had occured at 9.34 am and 10.38 am last morning.

"We have kept a portable seismic monitoring unit installed at Wadinagala to detect any vibrations and have gathered further details. "We are confident that these vibrations originated from the direction of Inginiyagala. Our team of experts are in Ampara to conduct further investigations," the Chairman explained.