News
Some flood-affected families living in risky situations
View(s):By Ishu Bandara
More than 20 days after the flooding caused by cyclone Ditwah, many people living in the worst affected areas are still stranded and vulnerable. They continue to face severe hardships and a significant number of affected families have yet to receive the announced compensation, raising serious concerns about delays in relief and recovery efforts.
When the Sunday Times visited several affected areas, it was evident that many were still overwhelmed by uncertainty about where to begin rebuilding their lives.
This is our home for generations: Long time resident of Welivita, Kaduwela, A. Lawrence Pigera
A long time resident of Welivita in the Kaduwela area, A. Lawrence Pigera, 74, told the Sunday Times that his family has lived on the banks of the Kelani River for more than 100 years. He lives in his ancestral home, which is now under serious threat.
“This is our native village. Our relatives have lived here for generations. When we were young, we played by the Kelani River. Now, we cannot even go near it. The river has taken parts of our land because of erosion,” he said.
About 20 houses are located close to the river, and authorities say it is no longer an area safe to live in. The riverbank has weakened and collapsed behind some houses, putting lives at risk.
Mr Pigera, said that although homes are under serious threat, residents do not want to leave. Instead, they are asking for a permanent solution to the erosion problem, as they cannot imagine living away from the place they have called home for decades.
“Many governments have talked about solutions, but none has been properly carried out. Now the situation has become much worse. It is a real threat to our lives, and the houses we built over many years are being destroyed,” he said.
He told the Sunday Times that he had raised these concerns with previous governments. He recalled seeing a large trench in the riverbed when he dived into the river, and he believes that a major cause of the erosion is the mechanical suction of water into the Ambatale reservoir.
He said that earlier governments had promised to build a protective bund along the riverbank.
“In 2016, they told us a bund would be constructed. Officials even came and took measurements again recently, but no one ever came to build it,” he said. According to him, if it had been built, their houses would have been saved.
Another resident, in Arangapolawatta, Weliwita, R.A. Siriyani, told the Sunday Times: “Our ground floor was completely flooded, and most of our equipment, books, and my son’s school supplies were damaged. The navy came from the river side and asked us to evacuate, and now we are living with relatives. How long do we have to stay there? My son wants to go back to school.
“We still haven’t received any relief supplies or compensation. Many people in our area have lost most of their belongings. Day by day, our land is being swallowed by the river, and now the houses in this area are under serious threat. We couldn’t live in a flat or elsewhere, but we want to stay here in this calm environment where we have lived for decades. We need a permanent solution to this problem without leaving our homes.”
It was clear that the families had once lived dignified lives. Their homes still showed signs of how carefully they were maintained, but now everything is in disarray.
Another resident said people had been asked to evacuate but not told where to.
“I built this house by working abroad. I had many plants in my garden, and our living space was neatly arranged. Now everything is a mess. While there are reports that some 300 to 400 families have received help, the majority remain overlooked. Around 1,400 families were submerged in our area, but those on our road have not received any aid, not even the promised Rs. 25,000 allowance,” the resident said.
Speaking in despair, the resident added: “We are just surviving without hope. We don’t know how long it will take to return to our normal lives.’’
Another family living in Hokandara North, shared their tragic story with the Sunday Times. The resident, Ruwan, Darshana a traditional doctor (Veda Mahaththaya) said: “Only our kitchen was flooded at first, but after the floods, the whole house started to sink. My three children, my wife, and my mother are struggling to live here because the walls are full of cracks.’’
When we visited the house, it was clear that six people, including three children aged 15 years, 10 years, and less than one year, were living in a small house with cracks. They sleep on the floor in the living area, as the only bedroom is in a part of the house that is already sinking and developing dangerous cracks in the walls.
Cracks have appeared on the walls of the home of Ruwan Darshana (inset) in Hokandara. Pix by M.A. Pushpa Kumara
While authorities have issued warnings, they have not provided a safe place. “The Grama Niladhari told us to leave, but all they offered was a small tent. There are six of us, my mother, wife, and three children, and we cannot all fit into such a tiny space,” he said.
“The official communication from the Divisional Secretariat was equally unhelpful. They sent a letter telling us to move to a ‘suitable location’ immediately, but they didn’t say where, or provide a place. We are still here because we have nowhere else to go,” he said.
A big point of contention is paying for technical inspections. “Authorities say the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) must come and check the site, but they told us, verbally, that we have to pay the fee ourselves.”
Mr Darshana expressed his inability to comply: “I had an accident recently and haven’t been able to walk for a month.I simply do not have the ability to pay.’’
“There is no proper drainage provided by the Pradeshiya Sabha, and all the water from the main road and neighbouring houses flows directly through my land,” he said. The volume of water exceeded the capacity of the small drain he had built himself, causing severe damage. “The force of the water washed away the soil around the foundation, which is why the house started to sink.’’
Neville Wijeratne, national organiser of the Sri Lanka Grama Niladhari Union, said that at least 127 officers are victims themselves, yet continue to work in camps. He said that they have no gloves, boots, raincoats, or first aid kits, and their Rs. 600 monthly petrol allowance has not changed despite the crisis. With a shortage of 2,500 officers nationwide, one officer often has to cover multiple divisions, which delays aid.
“The situation in Gampola is very serious. Even though the floodwaters have receded, the town is still buried under debris and it’s like a waste tsunami. Over 160 businesses have been destroyed, and nearly 23 days later, residents still don’t know when life will return to normal,” he said.
He said more powers should be given to Grama Niladhari to speed up relief.
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