• Resettlement to focus on ensuring that victims’ economic activities and occupations will not be affected 

In the wake of Cyclone Ditwah, the Government has announced a monumental task: providing disaster resilient, permanent housing for every family whose home was destroyed or rendered unsafe by the disaster. This mission follows the initial damage assessments that reveal the staggering scale of displacement across the island. According to the Deputy Housing, Construction and Water Supply Minister, T.B. Sarath, the National Disaster Management Committee (NDMC) Chaired by the President and comprised of Cabinet Ministers - has been spearheading all data collection and calculation efforts. The Housing, Construction and Water Supply Ministry is playing a key role within this Committee.

As of 18 December, the said Committee has identified a total of 17,648 separate incidents. This figure encompasses homes that were fully destroyed, those partially damaged, and areas officially declared too dangerous for habitation, from which residents have been ordered to evacuate. The programme of the Ministry is to provide a safe house for all of them. However, the detailed process of verifying and categorising each affected structure is still ongoing. The National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) is conducting further technical investigations to assess the exact nature and extent of the damage to individual properties.

Officials note the disaster's most tragic toll came not from flooding but from landslides, which caused the majority of fatalities during Ditwah. Consequently, the Government's primary focus has shifted from mere repair to the strategic withdrawal of communities from landslide-prone zones. Yet, still the concerns about the practicality of a total withdrawal from hazardous areas, neglecting the options for seeking room for disaster resistance technology, design, architecture and materials in constructing houses in danger prone areas is lingering in the air. Relocation to safer ground is now a central pillar of the recovery plan. On the logistical front, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has convened a meeting in Colombo with all District and Divisional Secretaries. The purpose of this high-level gathering is to identify and decide on specific locations where new housing settlements will be constructed. The Government that confirms it is now actively engaged in the complex process of sourcing suitable land for the large-scale relocation effort.

In an interview with The Daily Morning, Sarath detailed the Government's comprehensive plan to address one of the most critical aftermaths of Ditwah: providing disaster resilient, permanent housing for the tens of thousands of displaced families. He explained the assessment process, the relief strategy, and the long-term vision for rebuilding communities while safeguarding lives against future disasters.

Following are excerpts of the interview:

What is the current scale of housing destruction identified by the Government?

The data collection and calculation regarding the recent disaster is done by the NDMC, including the President and the Ministers. The Housing, Construction and Water Supply Ministry is playing a significant role in this Committee. By 18 December 2025, the Committee identified 17,648 incidents. This includes the full destruction of houses, partially destroyed houses, and places that are identified as dangerous where people have been asked to evacuate. The programme of the Ministry is to provide disaster resilient housing for all of them.

How do you define a fully damaged house and a partially damaged house?

The NBRO decides the capacity of the harm and categorises them. Some houses are completely submerged by the landslide with no clue of the houses, and for some, only the rocks have come near the houses. The judgement lies with the NBRO. Among the 17,648 houses, the NBRO has identified around 6,500 houses as completely destroyed, around 4,200 to be partially destroyed, and around 6,500 to be places that are not safe to live. Of the 6,500 houses identified by the NBRO as being unsafe, some have not been affected at all. Yet still, those places are identified as not safe for settlement. Hence, we are planning to move them to other places. 

What do you identify as an unauthorised construction? Among the damaged houses, how many are identified as such?

Under these circumstances, an unauthorised construction is a construction that is built on an unauthorised space - for instance, houses on riverbanks and slopes. But, we haven’t done any calculation on what are the unauthorised lands and constructions so far. Regardless of whether they are authorised or not, the people will benefit. However, action will be taken to ensure that hereafter no construction is made in a hazardous area.

How will the occupants' livelihoods be affected?

We are trying our level best to ensure that a person is not broken away from the economic body that he/she belongs to. During the process of collecting data about those who were displaced, we also identify the victim’s economic status and their occupational information as well. The Government then has an idea of the flexibility of each householders’ economic activities. Hence, during relocation the focus will be given to ensure their economic activities are not affected.

What is the basis for providing the displaced people a rental fee for six months? What happens to them after that?

The Government will be providing them Rs. 25,000 for three months. We are ready to extend it to six months too. Even if they are temporarily residing with their relations, we still pay that allocation. What we expect from the people is that they will again enter their usual economic activity within these six months. Hence, it will not be needed to provide them with financial assistance again. Our plan is to complete the construction of the houses and to resettle everyone within one to two years. Within these six months, some might find it impractical to return to their economic activity with the harms caused. Yet, in the long term, the Government is planning to completely solve these issues within the next one to two years. We haven’t done a risk analysis on further challenges that would hinder the project in deciding that time period, hence, slight differences in time frames could happen.

How do you tackle criticisms on the inadequacy of the Rs. 25,000 allowance?

Even though it’s pointed out that it’s not enough, we have to agree this is the highest amount a Government has provided under similar circumstances. The amount expected from some rental places will be different. Hence, our kind request for the public is to try finding a home that can be afforded by the given amount of money.

Some Provinces were destroyed drastically. By 22 December, the NBRO had identified the risk of landslides in 14 Districts across Sri Lanka, with around ‘30 per cent’ of the country’s land area classified as landslide-prone. Is it plausible for the Government to seek safe places for everyone completely withdrawing from the hazardous areas?

According to the number of persons identified so far in need of housing, the Government has the trust that we can find land enough to facilitate everyone. The President has convened a meeting with the Divisional and District Secretariats in Colombo to decide on the places where the new houses will be built. The Government is actively engaging in the process of identifying suitable areas for relocation. The Government can take over lands; we can buy them too. There are large portions of land belonging to the private sector that we could buy. Donors have already donated approximately 300 acres of land by now.

Will people have a democratic choice in selecting where they are going to live?

The process of resettlement can be challenged due to the fact the Government has to provide a solution. Some might like to go to a new place and adapt; some might not. Our focus is on ensuring their economic connection is maintained. We are collecting data to understand this and be flexible.

Italy, France and China have offered technical help. Why can’t Sri Lanka incorporate disaster-resistant technology in reconstruction?

Discussions are ongoing with parties who have the scientific and technical knowhow. If we the politicians are to talk about the matter first, it will be politicised even if it’s technical. Hence, the experts will make their announcements in due course. 

Does the Government have a plan to incorporate the private sector or other parties in this project?

Yes. We are planning to have help from the private sector as well. If anyone is interested, they can help us with the constructions and donate them to the Government. The businessmen are also significantly helping financially in raising funds. The Rebuilding Fund is also there, and funds are in the process of being received locally and internationally.

Some schools have been destroyed and there are children still in relief camps. Even after relocation, children need to travel to school and transport problems might occur. Your Ministry might need to work with other Ministries such as the Transport and Highways Ministry to make sure that such events will be prevented. What are the Government’s plans?

We were planning to install new educational reforms next year (2026). According to those reforms, actions are suggested to provide students without transport facilities with Government-mediated transport. Every child including those in relief camps will be provided with the facilities to reach their school safely and such events might not take place.

People have lost mortgage and deed documents. How will you address this?

They don’t have to worry. All of them will be sorted out soon. The Government is planning to hold land administrative sessions with the help of the Kachcheri or the District Secretariats. In every Grama Sewaka (GS) Division, they will hold those sessions, and documentation issues will be sorted out.

How many water supply connections were destroyed, and what is the status of repair?

By now, the water connections are all reconstructed, and we have finished the supply of water for all the affected areas.

The Malaiyaha Tamil community in the estate community sector is not allowed to have houses or lands of their own for around 200 years. Do people in the plantations get ownership of the land this time?

All citizens are treated equally in the recovery efforts. Regardless of them not having ownership for the lands that they lived on, they will be provided with lands and houses. The ownership will be going to those plantation workers who will be settled after building the houses for them.

With discussions of a new Constitution, what will your Ministry contribute to ensure the right to housing?

The rights for lands lie with a few parties including the Mahaweli Authority and the Land Reform Commission. The right of these lands is not given to the National Housing Development Authority yet. After those resolutions are finalised, we can resolve the issues. The focus now is on the immediate recovery and rebuilding phase. Constitutional matters are part of a broader, separate discussion.

What contribution from the rebuilding phase will be allocated for house construction?

More than Rs. 850 million is separated for building houses so far. We can allocate further funds as funds are raised. There is a challenge, but, the Government has the trust that we will be able to win it.

The Opposition and some of the general public raise concerns about the Government lacking sufficient funds for implementing all the scheduled plans. Does the Government have alternatives in raising funds? For instance, implementing land taxes?

No. We haven’t considered a land tax at all so far. We believe that under these circumstances, what we can do most for the people is not to pressure them further with taxes but to aid them. We are trying to provide them with as much aid as possible. There won’t be a necessity for taxes. We have money in the Treasury that we had saved thriftily by taking thoughtful decisions. We are going to serve the public with those funds.

What does the Government expect from the general public in this phase?

This is a drastic disaster. We request every responsible political party not to use this situation for personal benefits. From responsible citizens, we request help with your patience, contribution, and participation. If everyone’s support is with the Government, we would be able to eradicate these issues sooner. We believe that 99% of the population has hopes the Government will succeed.

The Government might have had plans for 2026 in the sector of housing. Yet, unexpectedly Ditwah broke in. To what extent will this be affecting your plans for 2026?

It will not be affected. At least those plans will not be severely affected. The Budget has been accepted as it was planned for the year in which we have allocated the money for the plans on the housing and constructions. When we were allocating money for this disaster, none of the plans for 2026 had been changed. None of the conditions of it has to change. Yet, in prioritising reconstructing the damages due to Ditwah, it is a matter of fact that we will have to face challenges. Yet, all the plans for 2026 are going to be executed as they are planned. 

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the interviewee, and do not necessarily reflect those of this publication