A Risk Analysis of Landslides on the Morawaka “Kanda” Area in the Matara District of Sri Lanka

The Morawaka Kanda area has become heavily impacted by the landslides in the recent years resulting in socio-economic and environmental damages. This area which consists of steep slopes, soft soil layers with feldspar, poor drainage, constructions, deforestation, settlements and gardens may be at high potential risk for landslides. Therefore, in this study, special attention has been drawn to examine the risks of landslides on the Morawaka “Kanda” area in the Matara district. The research framework of this study was planned based on field surveys for the data collection of landslide risks using a data collection sheet and questionnaire. Satellite data taken by survey department was used for the risk area mapping using Geographical Information Systems (GIS). According to the analysis of causative factors, high risky land area is about 18 km² and it is 24% of the area. The land extent of moderate and low risk is nearly 64% of the total area in this study area. The moderate landslide risk areas covered 24.14km² land. It is about 31%. 25km² is about low risk. 45% is low and no risk. Still there is a risk for future landslides in the unstable slope on the right bank of the Morawaka Kanda landslide path in 2017. 55% of the families live in the high risk area and only 20% of the families are in the moderate risk while 25% of the families have low or no risk. 50% of the high risk families are in Morawaka Kanda and Yati Horagala. The identification of landslide prone areas play an important role in avoiding or minimizing hazards and the identification of potential landslide risk areas is very important to ensure the safety of lives and property.