Some 44,000 individuals displaced by flooding throughout the nation as aid operations intensify amid widespread destruction.
Printed On 29 Nov 2025
Sri Lanka has made an attraction for worldwide help because the dying toll from heavy rains and floods triggered by Cyclone Ditwah rose to 123, with one other 130 reported lacking.
The extreme weather system has destroyed almost 15,000 houses throughout the nation, sending virtually 44,000 individuals to state-run momentary shelters, the Catastrophe Administration Centre (DMC) mentioned on Saturday.
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Though Cyclone Ditwah was heading in the direction of neighbouring India to the north on Saturday, extra landslides have hit the central district of Kandy, 115km (70 miles) east of the capital Colombo, with the principle entry highway beneath water at a number of places.
DMC Director-Normal Sampath Kotuwegoda mentioned aid operations had been strengthened with the deployment of hundreds of members of the military, navy and air drive as he introduced the newest casualty figures.
“Reduction operations with the assistance of the armed forces are beneath method,” Kotuwegoda instructed reporters in Colombo.
Mahesh Gunasekara, the secretary-general of the Sri Lanka Pink Cross Society, mentioned many individuals have been stranded in numerous flood-hit areas as rescue crews are attempting to succeed in them.
“Reduction wants have been rising. After two days, water has nonetheless been swelling,” he mentioned.
“Though the cyclone is slowly transferring away from the nation, it isn’t over for us but,” Gunasekara added.
Flooding prompted authorities to concern evacuation orders for these residing alongside the banks of the Kelani River, which flows into the Indian Ocean from Colombo.
The Kelani burst its banks on Friday night, forcing a whole lot of individuals into momentary shelters, the DMC mentioned.
The federal government issued an attraction for worldwide assist and requested Sri Lankans overseas to make money donations to help almost half 1,000,000 affected individuals.
Officers mentioned Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya had met with Colombo-based diplomats to replace them on the scenario and search the assistance of their governments.
India was the primary to reply, sending two planeloads of aid provides, whereas an Indian warship already in Colombo on a beforehand deliberate goodwill go to donated its rations to assist victims.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences over the deaths in Sri Lanka and mentioned New Delhi was able to ship extra support.
“We stand prepared to offer extra support and help because the scenario evolves,” Modi mentioned on X.
Whereas rain had eased in most components of Sri Lanka on Saturday, together with the capital, components of the island’s north have been nonetheless experiencing showers as a result of residual results of Cyclone Ditwah.
DMC officers mentioned they anticipated flood ranges to exceed these recorded in 2016, when 71 individuals have been killed nationwide.
This week’s weather-related toll is the best since June final yr, when 26 individuals have been killed following heavy rains.
In December, 17 individuals died in flooding and landslides.
