Sri Lanka: Tragedy at Ahangama Construction Site: Three Workers Killed in Massive Landslide
By Lions Roar Southern Bureau
AHANGAMA, SRI LANKA (Friday, January 23, 2026) — A routine workday turned into a disaster at a construction site in Thittagalla, Ahangama, late Thursday night (Jan 22), as a massive mound of earth collapsed, burying three workers alive.
Ahangama Police confirmed that all three men, who were engaged in building a tourist resort for a foreign national, died as a result of the catastrophic slope failure.
? The Rescue Effort
The incident occurred while the workers were excavating near a large, pre-filled mound of earth. Without warning, the hillside gave way, trapping the trio beneath tons of soil.
- Immediate Response: Fellow workers and local residents rushed to the scene. They managed to pull one victim from the debris shortly after the collapse.
- Medical Intervention: The first victim was rushed to Ahangama Rural Hospital via a ‘1990’ Suwa Seriya ambulance but was later pronounced dead.
- Recovery of Others: It took several hours of intense labor for rescuers to locate and retrieve the remaining two workers. Unfortunately, both were found deceased at the scene.
⚖️ The Victims Identified
Police have released the names of the three deceased workers, who hailed from different parts of the country:
- Herath Mudiyanselage Sunil Aberathna – Resident of the 57th Mile Post, Moraketiya, Padiyathalawa.
- Ajith Weerakoon – Resident of Hurivala Gedara, Diyasenpura.
- G.G. Hemantha Munaveera – Resident of Weragampita, Matara.
? Incident at a Glance: Ahangama Landslide
| Detail | Information |
| Date & Time | Thursday night, Jan 22, 2026 |
| Location | Thittagalla, Karana area, Ahangama |
| Project Type | Tourist Resort Construction (Foreign-owned) |
| Casualties | 3 Male Workers |
| Initial Cause | Collapse of an excavated earth mound |
? Ongoing Investigation
Ahangama Police are currently investigating the safety protocols at the construction site to determine if negligence played a role in the collapse. The bodies are currently being held at the Ahangama Rural Hospital pending post-mortem examinations.
Local authorities have raised concerns regarding the stability of excavated soil during construction projects, especially in hilly coastal areas where new resorts are rapidly being developed.
