Colombo, Sri Lanka – Sri Lanka is reeling from the catastrophic aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah, which has triggered widespread flooding and mudslides across the island nation. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake declared a state of emergency on Saturday as the death toll climbed to 193, with a further 228 people still unaccounted for, according to the Disaster Management Centre (DMC).
The week-long torrential rains unleashed by the cyclone have submerged vast swathes of land, particularly in the central regions, where the full extent of the damage is only now becoming visible as rescue teams struggle to clear blocked roads and reach isolated communities.
Rising Floodwaters Threaten Capital
Despite the cyclone’s departure, the threat of flooding persists. “Although the cyclone has left us, heavy rains upstream are now flooding low-lying areas along the banks of the Kelani River,” a DMC official stated, as residents in the northern parts of Colombo brace for further inundation.
The human cost of the disaster is immense. In Wennawatte, a suburb of Colombo, 46-year-old Selvi recounted her ordeal to AFP news agency, “My house is completely flooded. I do not know where to go, but I hope there is some safe shelter where I can take my family,” she said, carrying what possessions she could salvage from her submerged home.
Destruction Visible as Waters Recede
In Manampitiya, located 250km (155 miles) northeast of Colombo, floodwaters have begun to recede, revealing the scale of the devastation. “Manampitiya is a flood-prone town, but I have never seen such a volume of water,” said 72-year-old resident S Sivanandan, describing widespread damage to homes and businesses.
Critical Medical Needs
The disaster has exacerbated existing medical needs, with blood supplies running critically low. Lakshman Edirisinghe, the blood bank chief, reported a severe shortfall. "Because of floods and heavy rains, we were unable to conduct our mobile campaigns to collect blood," he explained, adding that only 236 units were collected on Saturday, far short of the daily requirement of 1,500. He has issued an urgent appeal for blood donations.
Landslide Warnings Persist
Authorities are warning of the continuing risk of landslides, as mountain slopes remain heavily saturated with rainwater, posing a significant threat to vulnerable communities.
International Aid Arrives
Following President Dissanayake’s appeal for international assistance, India was the first to respond, dispatching relief supplies and rescue helicopters. Pakistan and Japan have also pledged to provide support to the relief efforts.
Scale of Displacement
The cyclone has caused extensive damage to property, destroying more than 25,000 homes and forcing 147,000 people into temporary shelters. An estimated 968,000 people are in need of assistance after being displaced by the floods.
Military personnel are working alongside civilian responders in what is described as a massive relief operation. This disaster marks Sri Lanka’s deadliest natural disaster since 2017, when floods and landslides claimed the lives of more than 200 people. The country’s worst flooding this century occurred in June 2003, resulting in 254 fatalities.
