- Repair costs at Rs. 222 m
- Tourism largely unaffected: SLTDA
Recent floods caused by Cyclone Ditwah have damaged 38 archaeological sites across Sri Lanka, with the Uva and Central Provinces suffering the most severe impact, Department of Archaeology Acting Director General Thusitha Ranasinghe told The Sunday Morning.
Ranasinghe stated that out of the affected sites, seven had been completely damaged, 21 partially damaged, 19 required further assessment from the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO), and 36 had suffered varying levels of minor damage.
She affirmed that no archaeological artefacts had been lost or destroyed, as the damage was mostly structural.
“Fallen walls, tree branches falling onto roofs, flood-affected shrine rooms, and landslide-related structural impacts are among the damage,” she said.
Based on preliminary valuations by regional authorities, the estimated cost of repairs stands at Rs. 221,982,500, although the figures are not final.
Teams from the department’s Architectural and Maintenance Divisions, along with regional officials, have conducted onsite inspections and reports have been submitted to the ministry for further evaluation.
Ranasinghe noted that locations with structural damage had not been restored yet, although flood-affected sites had been cleaned and reopened.
She added that no external support from foreign bodies was expected and that the department did not maintain a contingency budget for disaster recovery.
Restoration timelines will vary depending on manpower, resources, and the nature of repairs. “In exceptional circumstances like this, we intend to start reconstruction work as soon as possible,” she said.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) Director General Malkanthi Rajapaksha stressed that no tourist destinations had been officially closed following the disaster and that the tourism industry had remained largely unaffected.
While damage to road and transport networks caused temporary access problems in Badulla, Kandy, Matale, Mandaramnuwara, Ramboda, and Riverston, minimal damage was noted in relation to several beach locations and no tourist injuries were reported.
“Riverston is not closed, but access is currently difficult,” Rajapaksha said, adding that the Government was working to restore road connectivity in affected regions. Tourists have altered itineraries and opted for southern destinations instead.
As of Thursday (25), Sri Lanka has surpassed 2.3 million tourist visits, averaging 7,000–8,000 tourists daily, contrary to speculations of a decline.
Rajapaksha confirmed that the industry was not experiencing significant economic losses this year, aside from minor booking cancellations and operational difficulties, with economic losses ranging between 1% and 10% in some establishments.
“There has not been an overall decline. Tourist arrivals have actually increased,” she said, noting that by 31 October, tourist revenue had surpassed $ 2.8 billion, with hopes of achieving the $ 3 billion target by year-end.
Rajapaksha highlighted Sri Lanka’s wide variety of destinations, which allowed tourists to change plans without cancelling trips entirely. She added that, aside from misinformation and negative perceptions, Cyclone Ditwah had not had a significant or lasting impact on the tourism industry.