Seven Members of One Family Perish in Matale's Ambokka Landslide

Due to the severe rainfall caused by the adverse weather conditions affecting the entire island, seven members of the same family tragically lost their lives inside their home in a landslide that occurred in the Ambokka area of Matale.

Mahawela Police have revealed that the accident occurred around 1:30 AM on the 29th, when several large rocks and mounds of earth located above the house collapsed onto it.

The tragic nature of the incident is further intensified by the fact that among those who died in this sudden disaster were a daughter who was sitting for this year's G.C.E. Advanced Level examination, as well as a small child aged one year and ten months.

The bodies of all individuals caught in the landslide were recovered by noon on the 30th, and arrangements were made for their burial after post-mortem examinations.

Those who lost their lives were residents of the Ambokka area: R.M. Ranjith Rathnayake (59), H.M. Wijelatha Menike (55), M.G. Gunaratne Menike (55), R.M. Pathmakumara (78), K.S.P. Preethimali Gunaratne (34), and 19-year-old Miss R.M.E. Udeshika Rathnayake, along with the young child R.M. Manuri Minara Rathnayake.

The operation to recover these bodies was carried out under the instructions of Mahawela Police OIC Chief Police Inspector Palitha Jayaratne, with the participation of a police team including Community Police Unit OIC Police Inspector Sunil, Dambulla Special Task Force personnel, Koholanwala Special Task Force personnel, and local residents.

Meanwhile, the police further stated that due to the disaster situation in the area, steps have been taken to accommodate 160 individuals from sixty affected families in safe camps established at the Ambokka Viharaya, and another 149 individuals at the Rusigama Gallena Bodhirajarama Viharaya.