The earth swallowed the sleeping: THE DISASTER THAT HAUNTS RAMBUK-ELA VILLAGE

I thought someone was cutting branches for goats, so I opened the window.

- By Ahsan Afthar

When I looked outside, I couldn't see the houses, wells, trees, or electric poles that were opposite,' says Fayis (53), who lives on Rambuk-ela Jumma Mosque Street and survived the landslide that occurred there last Friday, with a heavy heart.

The landslide that took place in the Rambuk-ela area around 11:50 PM last Friday (28-11-2025) has been confirmed by the Akurana Masjidh Federation to have claimed 29 lives. While the bodies (Janaza) of 14 victims were recovered and interred with the help of the security forces and villagers, the remaining victims are in permanent sleep beneath the earth.

The exact number of the deceased remains difficult to ascertain. Unofficial sources suggest that as many as 56 people may have been buried in this soil.

Unconfirmed reports also indicate that many people who had come in search of safety from various areas threatened by landslides were staying in Rambuk-ela and perished in the disaster.

Rambuk-ela isn't just the name of a village. It has now become a symbol that loudly proclaims how vulnerable villagers are to natural disasters and how far we still need to go in disaster management. The entire mass of earth collapsed in a very short time.

Survivors' accounts make it clear that the people, who were asleep at night, didn't get a single moment to comprehend what was happening or escape sans injuries.

Survivors' accounts and damage

The Rambuk-ela village, located on the Alawathugoda Ankumbura road within the Akurana Pradeshiya Sabha and Alawathugoda Police Division, is home to about 500 Muslim families.

Silmi, who managed to save everyone in his house from the clutches of the landslide, says: "My house, my vehicle, everything is gone. Everything is finished.

There is nothing left now. I'm not worried about that. It's enough that I didn't lose anyone in the family," as he shares his grief through tears.