The objectives of issuing NBRO’s clearance for construction in landslide prone areas are to minimize the landslide disaster risk and to increase the safety of life and property from future slope instabilities. This objective is achieved by,

• evaluating the existing landslide susceptibility of the land selected for the intended construction based on the existing geological, geotechnical and hydrological characteristics of the terrain enclosing the selected site.
• evaluating the possible changes in slope stability due to the required ground preparations and slope modifications for planned construction.
• evaluating the possible changes in slope stability due to the impact of planned construction on the hydrological characteristics of the terrain.
• recommending planned construction, with necessary conditions, when the potential to landslides/slope failures are minimal.
• studying the terrain in detail when there is a potential to landslides/slope failures, and if mitigation is viable,  then recommending introduction of remedial measures for the intended construction to minimize the susceptibility for any anticipated landslides/slope failures, and
• discouraging construction where there is a susceptibility to landslides/slope failures for which remedial measures are not feasible.

Landslide Prone Districts:

Kandy, Matale, Nuwara Eliya, Badulla, Kegalle, Ratnapura, Kalutara, Galle, Matara, and Hambantota have been declared as landslide prone districts by NBRO. Therefore, all construction those take places within those ten (10) districts need to obtain NBRO’s clearance. However, exemptions may apply to certain areas located within the Kalutara, Galle, Matara and Hambantota districts and Mahiyangana, Embilipitiya, Dambulla and Galewela Local Authorities depending on the characteristics of the terrain.

Mode of Requesting Landslide Clearance from NBRO

• Local authorities and other project approving agencies, which approve any construction within the landslide prone districts mentioned above, need to request their clients to submit NBRO’s clearance certificate.
• Local authorities and other project approving agencies will issue their clients the copies of the relevant application and the guidelines to complete the application at a nominal fee of Rs. 25.00.
• If the application is issued by a Local Authority or any other project approving agency, the official stamp of that local authority/agency should be clearly placed on the application.
• Clearance is issued under 3 categories:
  • Clearance for Construction of buildings & associated structures
    Applicants, who expect clearance for building construction within the above districts, should obtain the Inspection Request form "NBRO/LRRMD/IB/FM/IR-LRAB" from the local authority or the relevant project approving agency and hand over the completed application to the same institution from which the application was issued. Download Inspection Request Form.
  • Clearence for land development activities 
    Applicants, who expect clearance for development planning and/or land subdivision either for personal or commercial purposes, should obtain the Inspection Request form "NBRO/LRRMD/IB/FM/IR-LRAD" from the local authority or the relevant project approving agency and hand over the completed application to the NBRO district office. Download Inspection Request Form.
  • Clearance for Projects
    Applicants, who expect clearance for implementing any development activity and/or any construction other than buildings, within above districts, should obtain the Inspection Request form "NBRO/LRRMD/IB/FM/IR-LRAP" from the local authority or the relevant project approving agency and hand over the completed application to the NBRO district office. Download Inspection Request Form.

Application processing fee:

Construction of houses by low income families and Samurdhi beneficiaries:    Rs. 100.00

Other housing, religious and public buildings based on the area of the land where construction takes place:

 For commercial buildings including industrial and hotels: