One person has been confirmed dead, four others have been hospitalised, and several remain trapped following a landslide near Ganetenna Junction in Kadugannawa, along the Colombo–Kandy main road.
Hospital sources said that three individuals who were trapped in the landslide have been rescued and admitted to the Mawanella Hospital.
Rescue operations are continuing to locate and free several others feared to be trapped beneath the rubble.
The landslide had reportedly struck a roadside shop, sending earth and debris crashing onto the building and several nearby vehicles.
The shop, known for selling snacks and tea and popular among motorists travelling along the Colombo–Kandy road, is located close to the main road in the Ganetenna area.
The Disaster Management Centre said rescue operations are ongoing, and three people trapped under the debris have already been rescued and admitted to the Mawanella Base Hospital.
The incident has caused significant traffic disruption, with movement on the Colombo–Kandy main road restricted to a single lane in the affected area. Police said vehicular movement along that lane has also been halted due to safety concerns.
Authorities have warned that the continuing heavy rainfall has increased the risk of landslides, rockfalls, and earth slips, particularly in Pahala Kadugannawa.
Police have advised motorists to use alternative routes, as the road remains temporarily closed from Ganetenna as a precaution.
