Sri Lanka's Cabinet has authorized the National Building Research Organisation to oversee urgent reconstruction efforts at the National Institute of Fundamental Studies in Kandy following landslide damage caused by Cyclone Ditwah in November.
The Cabinet of Ministers has greenlit a major reconstruction initiative at the National Institute of Fundamental Studies (NIFS) in Hanthana, Kandy, entrusting the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) with planning, technical assessments, and procurement responsibilities on a direct contract basis. According to Cabinet Spokesperson Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, this arrangement is intended to accelerate implementation of stabilisation measures and restore safe operating conditions at the research facility.
The reconstruction project carries an estimated budget of Rs. 250 million and will focus on constructing a protective embankment alongside other stabilisation efforts. The work aims to address structural damage to the institute's main laboratory building complex and eliminate safety hazards threatening both the facility and neighbouring residential areas.
The initiative responds to extensive damage sustained when a landslide affected the NIFS premises following heavy rainfall associated with Cyclone Ditwah in November 2025. Subsequent geotechnical and structural evaluations conducted by the NBRO identified critical vulnerabilities requiring immediate intervention to prevent additional deterioration and safeguard the site.
The NIFS, established in 1981, functions as a national research institution focused on fundamental scientific research and development of Sri Lanka's scientific capabilities. The government's decision to assign reconstruction oversight to the NBRO reflects the technical complexity of restoring both the institute's infrastructure and the stability of its surrounding environment.
