Issues and Challenges of Post Landslide Management in Sri Lanka (a Case Study of Meeriyabedda Landslide in Badulla District)

Abstract

Landslide is a geophysical event that has become one of the most calamitous natural hazards in Sri Lanka. Approximately, over 50000 people have been directly affected by landslide during the last five years and thousands of people are living at risk situation today particularly in the Badulla, Ratnapura, Kegalle, Galle, Matara, Kandy, Kaluthara districts. Since many unexpected adversities are emerged during and after the landslides, it is very important to have a proper mechanism of post disaster management in order to address the resettlement and rehabilitation phases. The study aims to identify the failures of post landslide management while proposing new strategies to overcome existing issues and challenges. By considering the catastrophic landslide hazard occurred in Meeriyabedda of Badulla District in 2014, 92 families who lived in temporary camps and the vicinity of the damaged area was selected as the study area in this research. Both quantitative and qualitative methods which enable data collection through questionnaires, structural interviews, semi structural interviews and case studies are used. A mix method of descriptive and analytical was applied along with cartographic techniques for data analysis and discussion. The results revealed that, among the three phases of post landslide management such as immediate response and relief, short term recovery and rehabilitation and long term reconstruction and development, most of the issues and challenges could be identified in the phase of long term reconstruction and development. Institutional arrangements that need to be directed to identify and resolve the emerging issues particularly in the process of resettlement, have not properly functioned due to internal and external factors. Therefore, it is recommended that, a proper institutional coordination and commitment must be in the scene until are reached the durable solutions in the phase of reconstruction and development.