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UNDP assessment paints a frightening picture in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah

Published

3 weeks ago

2025/12/10

Thilina Walpola

Areas flooded 1.1 hectares

Population exposed 2.3 mn

Landslides recorded 1.2 k = Buildings exposed 919 k

The UNDP has estimated that almost 720 thousand buildings were exposed to cyclone-related flooding across Sri Lanka. According to UNDP analysis, this includes 243 hospitals (as estimated by the Sri Lankan Ministry of Health) and hundreds of educational facilities. Overall, about 1 in every 12 buildings in Sri Lanka was exposed to flooding during Cyclone Ditwah, the UNDP stated.

At the level of divisional secretariats, Ja-Ela in the Gampaha district recorded the highest number of affected buildings with more than 44 thousand structures exposed. Kolonnawa and Kaduwela in the Colombo District as well as Katana and Wattala in the Gampaha District also recorded over 35 thousand exposed buildings each, according to the UNDP.

The flooding was so severe Cyclone Ditwah resulted in 1.1 million hectares of flooding across Sri Lanka – equal to about 20% of Sri Lanka’s land mass, the UN agency stated.

Based on the Department of Surveys’ 2024 national road dataset, the UNDP analysis estimated that more than 16 thousand kilometers of roads were exposed to flooding across the country, enough to circle Sri Lanka’s coastline 12 times over. The cyclone has also exposed over 480 road bridges nationwide.

At the level of divisional secretariats, Katana, Gampaha, and Ja Ela in the Gampaha District all recorded over 300 km of exposed roads each. Other secretariats like Kaduwela in the Colombo District and Wattala in the Gampaha District also registered high levels of road exposure.

Railways and railway bridges (railroad system), too, suffered significant damages according to the UNDP analysis. Accordingly, over 278 km of railways were exposed to cyclone-related flooding, including 35 railroad bridges nationwide. The UNDP emphasized that this figure reflected flooding only, but other hazards (such as localized debris, landslides, or damage to a single bridge) could also disrupt operations, meaning that even relatively small obstructions could render long stretches of railway non-operational. Like road exposure, railway exposure limits mobility and the capacity of affected populations to access key services and infrastructure.

At the level of divisional secretariats, Colombo and Thimbirigasyaya in the Colombo District, Ja Ela in the Gampaha District, as well as Mannar Town and Nanaddan in the Mannar District all registered over 10 km of exposed railways each.

The UNDP has warned the removal of debris posed quite a challenge with preliminary estimates indicating that Cyclone Ditwah generated more than 240,000 tonnes of non-construction waste and over 60,000 m³ of construction-related debris. These figures were expected to increase and evolve as field verification advances and more areas become accessible, the UNDP stated.

The UNDP dealt with the crisis experienced by the agriculture sector.

The UNDP stated: “It is estimated that Cyclone Ditwah has exposed over 530 thousand hectares of paddy lands to flooding across Sri Lanka. The most impacted divisional secretariat is Dimbulagala (Polonnaruwa District) with almost 19 thousand hectares of exposed paddy lands. Other secretariats like Welikanda and Medirigiriya, also in the Polonnaruwa District, as well as Horowpathana (Anuradhapura District) and Dehiattakandiya (Ampara District) have also been heavily affected by cyclone-related flooding. There are also areas where 20 to 30% of households do not have sufficient stocks of dry food (such as rice) to last at least a week. Therefore, it is clear that the cyclone’s agricultural impacts are also located in areas with a high degree of food-related vulnerability.”

A key finding of latest UNDP analysis is that over half of the people in flooding areas were already living in households facing multiple vulnerabilities before Cyclone Ditwah, including unstable income, high debt, and a limited capacity to cope with disasters. These communities face heightened challenges in recovery, underscoring the need for targeted interventions.

According to the UNDP major recovery needs were concentrated in areas where cyclone impacts intersect with preexisting multidimensional vulnerability. “This pattern is evident across the central highlands and the northern, western, eastern, and central regions. Among the divisional secretariats with the highest recovery needs are Mundel and Arachchikattuwa in the Puttalam District, as well as Kandavalai in the Kilinochchi District.”

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Tri-Forces donate LKR. 372 million, a day’s pay of all ranks to ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund

Published

4 hours ago

2026/01/3

Priyan

Members of all ranks from the Sri Lanka Army, Sri Lanka Navy and Sri Lanka Air Force have collectively donated a day’s basic salary to the ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund, which was established to restore livelihoods and rebuild the country following the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah.

Accordingly, the total contribution made by the Tri-Forces amounts to LKR. 372,776,918.28.

The cheques representing the financial contributions were handed over on Wednesday (31 December) at the Presidential Secretariat to the Secretary to the President, Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.

The donations comprised LKR. 250 million from the Commander of the Army, Major General Lasantha Rodrigo; LKR. 73,963,879.71 from the Commander of the Navy, Rear Admiral Kanchana Banagoda and LKR. 48,813,038.97 from the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Vasu Bandu Edirisinghe.

Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha, was also present on the occasion.

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CEB demands 11.57 percent power tariff hike in first quarter

Published

6 hours ago

2026/01/3

Thilina Walpola

The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has submitted a proposal to the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) seeking an 11.57 percent increase in electricity tariffs for the first quarter of 2026, citing an estimated revenue shortfall and additional financial pressures, including cyclone-related damages.

According to documents issued by the PUCSL, the proposed tariff revision would apply to electricity consumption from January to March 2026 and includes changes to both energy charges and fixed monthly charges across all consumer categories, including domestic, religious, industrial, commercial and other users.

Under the proposal, domestic electricity consumers would face increases in unit rates as well as fixed monthly charges across all consumption blocks.

The CEB has estimated a deficit of Rs. 13,094 million for the first quarter of 2026, which it says necessitates the proposed 11.57 per cent tariff hike. The utility has noted that any deviation from this estimate whether a surplus or a shortfall will be adjusted through the Bulk Supply Tariff Adjustment (BSTA) mechanism and taken into account in the next tariff revision.

In its submission, the CEB said the proposed revision is aimed at ensuring the financial and operational stability of the power sector and mitigating potential risks to the reliability of electricity supply. The board-approved tariff structure for the first quarter of 2026 has been submitted to the PUCSL for approval and subsequent implementation, as outlined in Annex II of the proposal.

The CEB has also highlighted the financial impact of Cyclone Ditwah, which it said caused extensive damage to electricity infrastructure, with total losses estimated at around Rs. 20 billion. Of this amount, Rs. 7,016.52 million has been attributed to the first quarter of 2026, which the utility said has a direct bearing on electricity tariffs.

The CEB warned that if external funding is not secured to cover the cyclone-related expenditure, the costs incurred would need to be recovered through electricity tariffs in the second-quarter revision of 2026.

Meanwhile, the PUCSL has said that a decision on whether to approve the proposed tariff increase will be made only after following due regulatory procedures and holding discussions on the matter.

By Sujeewa Thathsara ✍️

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Health Minister sends letter of demand for one billion rupees in damages

Published

6 hours ago

2026/01/3

Thilina Walpola

Ondansetron controversy

Minister of Health and Mass Media Dr Nalinda Jayatissa has sent a letter of demand for Rs. 1 billion in damages from YouTube content creator Dharmasri Kariyawasam, accusing him of disseminating false and defamatory material linking the Minister to the importation of Ondansetron and inciting public unrest.

The notice, sent through the Minister’s lawyers, states that investigations are currently under way into 10 medicines, including Ondansetron Injection, manufactured by India-based Maan Pharmaceutical Limited.

Ondansetron Injection was among nine injectable drugs recently suspended by the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) following reports of patients administered with the drug suffering adverse complications.

Despite the ongoing investigations, Kariyawasam allegedly aired a widely viewed programme on his YouTube channel titled “The hidden story of the Indian drug that claimed lives, Mayor Balthazaar’s relative, and Minister Nalinda’s cover-up.”

According to the letter of demand, the programme falsely portrayed Minister Jayatissa as being directly responsible for importing the drug, colluding with the supplier, and attempting to conceal the issue, while depicting him as indifferent to public suffering.

The Minister’s lawyers maintain that these allegations are entirely false and defamatory, citing passages in which Kariyawasam allegedly accused Jayatissa of lying about the supplier, concealing facts related to PTC Medicals (Pvt) Ltd., the actual importer, and showing a lack of concern over deaths purportedly linked to the drug.

The programme also claimed links between the directors of PTC Medicals and family members of Colombo Mayor Vraîe Cally Balthazaar, implying political favouritism.