Colombo, November 28, 2025: A devastating cyclone has swept through Sri Lanka, leaving at least 46 people dead and 23 others missing, as torrential rains and landslides caused widespread destruction across the island.
Forecasters say over 300 mm (nearly 12 inches) of rainfall was recorded in many areas over a 24‑hour period as Cyclone Ditwah made landfall. The eastern and central regions were especially hard hit mountainous terrain triggered landslides and flash floods that buried homes and swept away roads.
Dozens of people were killed when mudslides struck tea‑growing areas such as the districts of Badulla and Nuwara Eliya.
The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said nearly 43,991 people, many stranded on rooftops or in flooded homes, were evacuated to schools and public shelters across the country.
Schools were closed, train services suspended and public transport halted as floodwaters inundated rail tracks and roads.
The Colombo Stock Exchange also halted trading early, reflecting the severity of the disruption.
Emergency crews, including the military, navy boats and air force helicopters, have been mobilised to rescue stranded residents and deliver relief supplies.
Authorities have warned that floodwaters may continue to rise, especially as rivers swell and rain continues, raising fears of further landslides and flooding in low‑lying areas.
Flights to and from the main international airport (BIA, Colombo) have been disrupted, several incoming flights have already been diverted to airports in southern India such as Trivandrum and Cochin.
The government has closed wildlife parks and protected areas across the country, including parts of the popular Yala National Park, to ensure visitor safety amid floods and landslides.
The DMC’s Emergency Operations Director, Brigadier S. Dharmawickrema, said rescue operations are ongoing, but some villages remain inaccessible due to blocked roads and landslides.
The government has urged residents in flood‑prone areas, especially near rivers and valleys, to move to higher ground immediately as rising water levels pose a grave risk.
With heavy rains expected to continue and the cyclone’s path still uncertain, authorities have warned that flooding and landslide danger remain very high across the island.
