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Country reels under worst weather in living memory

Published

3 weeks ago

2025/11/29

56 confirmed deaths, at least 21 others missing

The country reeled under relentless, countrywide rainfall on Friday as helicopters, Navy boats and thousands of troops fanned out across the country to rescue those marooned by floods, the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said. Torrential rains drenched the entire 65,000-square-kilometre island, with some regions recording a staggering 360 millimetres in just 24 hours.

Authorities warned that the Kelani River was on the verge of bursting its banks by yesterday evening. Residents living along its path were urged to flee to higher ground as waters continued to surge.

V. S. A. Ratnayake, 56, who had abandoned his flooded home in Kaduwela, as water levels rose rapidly, told the media: “I think this could be the worst flood in our area for three decades. I remember a flood in the 1990s when my house was under seven feet of water.”

The scale of the military response underscored the gravity of the crisis. The Army deployed more than 20,000 troops, while the Navy dispatched boats to evacuate marooned villagers and clear fallen debris choking waterways. Air Force helicopters were also pressed into service, including a dramatic mission in Anuradhapura where a Bell 212 airlifted a man clinging to a coconut tree to escape rising waters. Military footage showed similar rescues taking place across multiple districts.

Of the 56 confirmed deaths, 26 were buried alive in mudslides in the tea-growing Badulla district.

Another 21 people are missing, while 14 remain hospitalised, according to the DMC. Nearly 3,000 homes were damaged and almost 15,000 people have been moved into temporary shelters as floodwaters engulfed communities from the central hills to the northern plains.

In Ruwanwella, a woman, identified only as Akma, issued a desperate plea for help, via the Sirasa TV. Speaking from the second floor of her home, she said the entire ground floor was underwater. “We are six people, including a one-and-a-half-year-old child. If the water rises another five steps up the staircase, we will have nowhere to go,” she said.

Transport Minister Bimal Rathnayake confirmed that 60 stranded Indian tourists were rescued from the central province and brought to Colombo.

The DMC warned that more rain is expected over the weekend, with Cyclone Ditwah forecast to drift northwards toward India’s Tamil Nadu coast by Sunday. Officials fear flooding could surpass levels seen in 2016, when 71 people were killed, nationwide.

Residents along the Kelani River were already witnessing the speed and severity of the deluge. “I sent my children and wife to her sister’s house last night because we expected this,” said M.A. Madushantha, 38, whose home was inundated within hours.

The government moved quickly to limit public exposure, suspending nationwide school examinations for two days and granting civil servants a day off.

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Financial contribution from Gift Sri Lanka Foundation and the Georgia Buddhist Vihara, USA, for disaster relief

Published

3 hours ago

2025/12/19

Priyan

In support of relief efforts for communities affected by the Ditwah cyclone, Gift Sri Lanka Foundation and the Georgia Buddhist Vihara (GBV), USA, have made a financial contribution of USD 16,000 to the Government’s ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund.

The relevant cheque was formally handed over on Thursday (18) afternoon at the Presidential Secretariat by the Chief Incumbent of the Georgia Buddhist Vihara, Most Venerable Panamwela Vajirabuddha Nayaka Thero, to the Secretary to the President, Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.

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European Union provides over Euro 2.35 million Humanitarian Assistance to Sri Lanka

Published

3 hours ago

2025/12/19

Priyan

The European Union has allocated a total of Euro 2.35 million of financial assistance to Sri Lanka. This includes Euro 500,000 through IFRC and Euro 1.85 million through DG-European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) partners, WFP and UNICEF as humanitarian assistance to Sri Lanka, in response to the impact of Tropical Cyclone Ditwah,

In addition to the above allocation, the Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM), which brings together 37 participating States, all 27 EU member States, as well as Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, Türkiye and Ukraine, is providing in-kind assistance to Sri Lanka.

As a part of the UCPM in kind assistance being provided, on Wednesday, 17th December, Sri Lanka received an aid shipment, with two air cargo flights arriving in Colombo from Germany, France and Luxembourg. This aid shipment included 83 tonnes of relief items such as family tents, mattresses, hygiene and kitchen kits, beds and water filters. The supplies are intended for distribution among communities most affected by the cyclone.

The arrival of the assistance was welcomed by the EU Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Carmen Moreno, French Ambassador, Rémi Lambert, and the Deputy Head of Mission at the German Embassy, Sarah Hasselbarth. On behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka, the donations were received by Sugeeshwara Gunaratna, Director General / Europe & North America, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment & Tourism and Chathura Liyanarachchi, Director, Disaster Management Center (DMC).

Italy has also provided a team of structural engineers to support Sri Lanka’s disaster assessment and recovery process.

Furthermore, the EU has activated its Copernicus Emergency Management Service (EMS) in rapid mapping mode, with around 30 maps produced so far.

The European Union has committed continued cooperation and support to Sri Lanka’s disaster recovery and rebuilding process, reaffirming the enduring friendship and strong partnership between Sri Lanka and the European Union.

News

Sajith: Met Dept. officials under virtual house arrest

Published

5 hours ago

2025/12/19

Thilina Walpola

Sajith Premadasa

… hands over proposal asking for PSC probe into govt.’s lapses

Opposition and SJB leader Sajith Premadasa yesterday accused the government of having gagged the Meteorology Department officials, who, he said, had been placed under virtual house arrest. He claimed that they had been barred from speaking to the media.

Speaking in Parliament, Premadasa said withholding information from the public was unacceptable. He insisted that the Meteorology Department and international agencies had repeatedly issued warnings about extreme weather events between November 11 and 26. He demanded to know why Sri Lanka’s disaster management mechanism had not been activated in a timely manner.

“The key issue is why the country’s disaster management system failed to respond when the risks were clearly identified,” he told the House, describing the lapse as a serious failure of governance.

Condemning attempts to silence officials, Premadasa said acknowledging mistakes was the only way forward. “If we are wrong, we should admit it. If we are right, we should say so. Silencing professionals will help solve problems.

The Opposition Leader also called for a National Disaster Response Force and amendments to the Disaster Management Act to strengthen preparedness and response mechanisms.

Premadasa and several other Opposition MPs have submitted a formal proposal to the Speaker seeking the appointment of a Parliamentary Select Committee to investigate the government’s failure to mitigate the impact of Cyclone Ditwah.

The Opposition has demanded a 30-member select committee tasked with producing a comprehensive report on the institutional and administrative failures during the disaster.

Describing the government’s lack of preparedness as deeply regrettable, the MPs have said that timely action would have helped save many lives and reduced the scale of destruction caused by the cyclone.

By Saman Indrajith ✍️