Sri Lanka Red Cross scales up operations in landslide hit Koslanda, aiding over thousands affected

Sri Lanka Red Cross scales up operations in landslide hit Koslanda,
 aiding over thousands affected

The Sri Lanka Red Cross Society (SLRCS) has scaled up rescue efforts in
order to support the people effected from the Koslanda landslide that occurred yesterday affecting over thousands of people.

Soon after the incident yesterday the SLRCS Badulla Branch deployed it’s first aid teams and volunteers to Meeriyabaddawatta in Koslanda. First Aid posts were set up at the location where over 120 persons were treated for minor injuries by this afternoon (30th October 2014).

Currently Red Cross Rescue & Relief Teams on the ground have also provided non food relief items (NFRI) to over 980 persons housed in two camps . The camps are located in Poonagala Tamil Maha Vidyalaya & the Koslanda Tamil Maha Vidyalaya. These relief kits include providing of hygiene utilities, bed sheets, sleeping mats and other relief items.

Meanwhile on a request made by the Disaster Management Ministry, SLRCS has installed 09 mobile latrines in the two camps where the survivors are housed at.


The Director General of Sri Lanka Red Cross Tissa Abeywickrama said “since mornings hours of today (30thOct 14) Red Cross volunteers & staff were promptly mobilized at the landslide hit Meeriyabeddawatta,Koslanda joined together with Govt Authorities are supporting affected people with first aid, relief items such as sleeping mats, bedsheets, sarongs, tarpaulin etc.”

He further said that on the guidance of the Disaster Management Ministry the Red Cross continuous support to affected people in Koslanda and Punagala displaced camps.

The Red Cross is now part of the Disaster Management Centre Operations Unit and are coordinating relief efforts in collaboration with the Disaster Management Ministry, Government Agents and other authorities on the ground. Meanwhile the Disaster Management Centre in coordination with the Department of
Meteorology continue to warns of more rainy conditions in the next 24 hours. This has triggered several landslide warnings by the National Building Research Organization (NBRO) specially in the Central and Uva Provinces.


Public is alerted to be cautioned about these warnings and to take safety measures.