• 159 dead, 203 missing as lacklustre response by Govt. draws public fury
• 833,985 people affected, 34,198 families in 919 shelters
• Kandy worst-hit: 52 dead, 105 missing
• Kelani Ganga, Kalu Ganga, Maha Oya overflow, flooding surroundings
• Armed forces, Police, State agencies, volunteers deployed for rescue ops

Sri Lanka is grappling with a severe humanitarian crisis following Cyclone Ditwah, which has caused widespread destruction across the island, leaving at least 159 people dead and 203 missing, according to Disaster Management Centre (DMC) statistics as of 8 p.m. yesterday (29).

The disaster, which had been forewarned, has affected over 230,000 families and impacted over 833,000 individuals, forcing tens of thousands to seek refuge in makeshift emergency shelters. 

At present, 34,198 families are taking shelter in 919 emergency centres nationwide, as authorities continue to struggle with the scale of the devastation.

Strong public criticism regarding the lack of warnings and the lethargic response by the State is growing.

The central district of Kandy has emerged as one of the hardest hit in terms of casualties, according to information available, reporting 52 deaths and 105 missing individuals, followed by Badulla with 52 deaths and 42 missing as of last evening.

Other districts, including Jaffna, Anuradhapura, Hambantota, and Galle, have each reported one death. However, many areas are yet to be reached by State officials, and as such, the situation on the ground is difficult to verify due to a lack of communication facilities.

In terms of the number of affected families, Puttalam has been the worst impacted, with 36,098 families affected, followed closely by Gampaha (36,098 families), Colombo (25,159), and Mannar (24,313), according to the DMC statistics.

Meanwhile, the armed forces (often the first responders in such situations) have been fully deployed in ongoing rescue operations, working tirelessly to locate and assist missing people despite being hampered by adverse weather conditions. 

The Navy has deployed boats, while some fisheries vessels are also being used to reach affected areas. The Air Force is conducting full-scale aerial operations, providing reconnaissance, conducting search and rescue missions, and support to ground teams. Rescue efforts continue around the clock as authorities strive to reach those stranded and ensure their safety.

While the immediate impact of the cyclone has lessened as it moves away from the island, Department of Meteorology Director General Athula Karunanayake warned that indirect effects would continue to pose serious risks.

As predicted by the Meteorology Department, heavy rainfall is still expected in parts of the Northern, North Central, North Eastern, and Central Provinces, exceeding 100 mm in some areas.

Meanwhile, the Western and Sabaragamuwa Provinces are predicted to experience rainfall exceeding 50 mm and other provinces are likely to face showers or thundershowers intermittently.

Despite the reduction in heavy rainfall, authorities have urged residents to remain in relief camps and avoid returning to their homes until it is deemed safe.

In addition, the infrastructure damage remains severe. Collapsed power lines have yet to be fully restored, prompting authorities to advise continued caution. Moreover, residents are being warned not to consume water from wells in flood-affected areas without proper purification due to the heightened risk of waterborne diseases.

Wind speeds across the island and surrounding seas are expected to reach 60–70 km/h, further endangering fishing and navigation activities, which are advised to remain suspended until conditions stabilise. 

Meteorologists predict that the indirect effects of Cyclone Ditwah will gradually subside by today (30), after which normal weather patterns, including evening or nighttime showers and thunderstorms, are likely to resume.

Adding to the catastrophe, fresh landslides over the past weekend have claimed nearly 10 lives, with dozens more missing.

In Monroviyawatte, Thulhiriya near Warakapola, 21 people were reported missing following a landslide, with Police launching ongoing rescue operations. The Kurunegala District has witnessed multiple landslides across three locations, resulting in nine confirmed deaths and 24 missing persons. 

Landslides at Idulgoda Mountain have left 12 people missing, with five bodies recovered, while landslides in Ibbagamuwa, Aragamankanda, and Omaragolla have left a combined total of 21 individuals missing.

Another landslide in Ankumbura in the Alawathugoda Police Division has displaced numerous families, with initial reports indicating that around 800 families reside in the affected village; however, no confirmed casualty figures are available yet as relief teams are yet to access the area.

In the meantime, flooding continues to compound the crisis, with multiple rivers across the island reaching major and minor flood levels.

The Kelani Ganga recorded major flood levels at Hanwella and Glencourse, while Nagalagam Street remained at minor flood level. The Kalu Ganga’s Putupaula and Magura stations were on alert, while Ratnapura recorded minor flooding and Millakanda experienced major flood levels. 

The Nilwala Ganga in Thalgahagoda remained on alert, Yan Oya at Horowpothana reported minor flooding, and the Maha Oya’s Badalgama and Giriulla stations recorded major flood levels. The Attanagalu Oya in Dunamale also reported major flood conditions, highlighting the ongoing threat to life, property, and livelihoods across the country.