As Sri Lanka continues to recover from the devastating impacts of Cyclone Ditwah in 2025, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) provided cash assistance to affected families in seven districts.

An IOM release said: With support from the United Nations Central Emergency Relief Fund (CERF), in coordination with the Government of Sri Lanka and implemented in partnership with the Sri Lanka Red Cross, IOM formally concluded its cash-based intervention (CBI) at a closing ceremony in the Puttalam District, in the presence of district officials, UN and IOM representatives, community leaders and community members.

The cash assistance was provided to over 4,000 families in Puttalam, Badulla, Jaffna, Batticaloa, Nuwara Eliya, Kegalle and Kandy districts, aimed at supporting them to conduct home repairs and purchase essential household items. This followed key selection criteria, targeting those whose homes were damaged by the cyclone. The assistance is part of broader support extended through the UN Humanitarian Priorities Plan (HPP), with cash-based assistance and distribution of over 4,700 essential non-food items (NFIs) to families in 60 locations.

“This cash-based intervention is one important component of the multi-sectoral response set out in the Humanitarian Priorities Plan, through which the UN and its partners are supporting recovery across shelter, food security, health, protection and beyond,” said Marc-André Franche, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka. “As climate-related hazards grow in frequency and intensity, this kind of coordinated action is essential to saving lives and building resilience.”

Cyclone Ditwah made landfall on 28 November last year, triggering some of the most severe flooding and landslides experienced in Sri Lanka in the past two decades. The disaster affected nearly 2.2 million people across all 25 districts, forcing many families to evacuate to safety centres due to extensive damage to their homes and disruption to their daily lives. According to IOM’s Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM), nearly 290,000 individuals were displaced at the peak of the disaster.

In response to the disaster, IOM immediately worked with the Government of Sri Lanka to assist families by distributing essential household items, deployed IOM’s Displacement Tracking Matrix, and is in the process of supporting the construction of transitional shelters. IOM also co-leads the Shelter, Land and Site Coordination (SLSC) Cluster, alongside the International Federation for Red Cross (IFRC), to coordinate safe camp management.

“IOM is pleased to help affected families meet their most urgent needs,” said Kristin Parco, IOM Chief of Mission for Sri Lanka and the Maldives, at the closing ceremony. “This support empowers families with the flexibility and dignity to spend according to their priorities as they rebuild their homes and lives.”

As Sri Lanka faces climate change-related hazards with increasing intensity and frequency, IOM remains committed to supporting communities to respond, recover and build preparedness.

Working in partnership with the Government of Sri Lanka, IOM continues to implement programmes aimed at reducing vulnerability, mitigating risks, enhancing evidence-based responses, and strengthening community resilience to future disasters.

A special ‘Arogya’ mobile health clinic programme was launched in Matara on Thursday in parallel with the ‘Dakshina Prabha’ 2026 State Vesak Festival, which commenced on Wednesday (27) and will continue until June 2.

The State Vesak Festival is being held centred around the ancient Rajamaha Viharaya at Mindellawala, Thihagoda.

The mobile health clinic was inaugurated at the Maha Manthinda Pirivena temple premises, in Matara, under the ‘Healthy Sri Lanka’ national programme, implemented countrywide by the Ministry of Health and Mass Media.

Large numbers of Buddhist monks and residents from Matara and surrounding areas, including Hittetiya, Godagama, Walgama, Pamburana, Nupe and Thudawa, attended the programme to obtain healthcare services.

The clinic comprised more than 10 healthcare units, including eye and dental clinics, diabetes and respiratory disease screening, blood pressure and cholesterol testing, ECG examinations, women’s wellness services, Ayurvedic treatment, mental health counselling and nutritional guidance.

Patients underwent medical examinations and were provided medicines free of charge, while those requiring further treatment were referred to specialist clinics at major government hospitals.

Specialist doctors, medical officers, nurses, paramedical staff and supplementary health professionals attached to the National Eye Hospital, Matara District General Hospital and several nearby state health institutions participated in the programme.

The Sri Lanka Navy demonstrated its commitment to maritime safety by  assisting  to bring ashore an injured fisherman and rushing him for urgent medical attention on Thursday (28 May 2026)

The fisherman was aboard a local multiday fishing trawler off the south coast and the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) Colombo coordinated the retrieval of the fisherman.

Reportedly, the multi-day fishing trawler had departed from the Kudawella Fisheries  Harbour on 05th  May with 06 fishermen. While engaged in fishing activities approximately 730 nautical miles off the south coast, one of the crew members suffered an injury.

Following a formal request for assistance, through MRCC Colombo, the Merchant Vessel ‘Dong Fang Wei Ye’ sailing in the nearby sea area had been informed to retrieve the patient. In a rapid response, the Navy dispatched a craft attached to the Southern Naval Command to the designated sea area where the Merchant Vessel was stationed to transfer the fisherman.

Upon transferring the injured fisherman from the Merchant Vessel, naval personnel provided essential first aid to the injured person before swiftly bringing him to the Galle Harbour And safely transferred him to the National Hospital, Galle.