Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera instructed the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau (GS&MB) to immediately begin an investigation into the tremor felt in the Ambakote, Haragama and Anuragama areas in the Kandy District on Wednesday morning.
Accordingly, GS&MB Chairman Anura Walpola sent a three member expert team to investigate the matter on Thursday. The report of the research team will be released next week, the Environment Ministry said in a press release yesterday.
Three tremors have been reported in the area in a short period of time. The investigations are being carried out by geologist Mahasen Wickramasinghe and seismologist Jayanath Herath.
According to current investigations, tremors of magnitude 2 on the Richter scale occur around the world as a result of the release of pressure from the limestone layers in the interior of the earth. About 300,000 such earthquakes occur worldwide each year.
However, some scientists have commented that the eruption of limestone could cause such tremors and that such shocks could endanger reservoirs.
Walpola said that the investigation report would be received next Monday and that further steps would be taken in accordance with its recommendations.
