UNDERSTANDING THE FLOOD AFTERMATH: WHAT SRI LANKANS SHOULD BE AWARE OF NOW

As water levels shift and families begin returning home or moving between affected areas, new risks emerge.

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Most of them are not obvious. This is the stage of the disaster where awareness matters most.

Floodwater that looks calm but isn’t

Even after the rain slows down, floodwater remains unpredictable. Roads that survived yesterday may not be intact today.

The ground beneath can be washed out without any visible sign. We’ve already seen this with major routes and bridges. The surface can look normal while the soil beneath has completely eroded. Walking or driving on submerged roads is still extremely dangerous.

Landslides long after the rain stops

The hill country remains one of the highest-risk zones. Rambuk-ela, Hasalaka, Badulla and Bulathkohupitiya have all reported deadly slides.

Kandy, which saw around 180 mm of rainfall, is still under a major landslide threat. Landslides do not wait for rain. They strike when slopes are fully saturated, and that is exactly where Sri Lanka stands right now.

Cracks on walls, leaning trees, strange sounds from the ground or sudden muddy seepage are early warnings. People living in these areas should not wait for a second sign. Movement should be immediate.

Contaminated water across multiple districts

Flooding has already affected major water treatment operations. The Ambatale Plant came under pressure, wells in several districts were contaminated, and floodwater mixed with sewage and runoff across the island.