Bravo! They literally moved mountains

By Captain Ranjith Wettewa SLN (Retd.) RSP

Torrential rains in early January culminated with huge landslides making the picturesque Kandy-Badulla road via Randenigala impassable on January12.

As a traveller who used this excellent scenic road every weekend over the past decade, I was perturbed with the closure. Taking the alternate route via Mahiyanganaya was a nightmare; not because of elbow bends but because of the innumerable potholes and dilapidated condition of the road. We heard that it would take three to six months to open the Randenigala road. I waited patiently.

Bravo! On February 24, I was pleasantly surprised when I could drive again through Randenigala. The damage the landslides had caused was terrible. It must be seen to be believed. It appears as if mountains have been scrapped by a huge hand. Mother Nature had gone wild.

My sincere gratitude goes to the staff of the Road Development Authority and other organizations involved in undertaking and completing the massive task of making the road motorable so efficiently and expeditiously. They have done a great job.

A few more areas need clearing and I am sure they will undertake and complete that as well. The mountain of debris two kilometres northwest of the Victoria power house needs immediate clearing as the rains will definitely make roads impassable otherwise.