A section of the route leading to the Sri Pada sacred site has been blocked after soil and parts of plants growing on a rock face near the summit collapsed onto the pathway due to heavy rainfall.
The Nallathanniya Police said the landslide has obstructed the road leading towards the Sri Pada upper shrine.
The Nallathanniya Police Station Chief Inspector R. Niroshan said the collapse occurred near the ‘Ehela Kanuwa area on the Nallathanniya-Sri Pada route, where a similar earth slip involving soil and vegetation had occurred previously.
He said the fallen soil and plant debris have landed on the steps leading to the Sri Pada Maluwa, affecting access along that section of the route.
Although the annual Sri Pada pilgrimage season is currently over, local and foreign visitors travelling to the summit during the off-season can access the site through the Ratnapura route via Idikatu Pahana, police said.
Authorities are expected to clear the affected area and remove the fallen debris once the prevailing bad weather conditions improve, police added.
