Sri Lanka: Floods and Landslides - Oct 2023

With the intensification of the southwest monsoon, Sri Lanka has experienced heavy rainfall in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, and Southern provinces. Based on the annual rainfall map of Sri Lanka, the southwest monsoon brings rain mainly from May to August to these regions of the island, while the northeast monsoon rains occur in the northern and eastern regions in December and January. This unusual expansion of the southwest monsoon in the country began early in October 2023, but severe rainy conditions were encountered in the aforementioned provinces starting on 6 October 2023, and a red warning was issued to 7 districts on 7 October 2023. However, the Disaster Management Centre stated on October 9, 2023, that a large number of people were displaced owing to floods and landslides in the Gampaha, Matara, and Galle districts. This was the breaking point for SLRCS, which launched a larger response effort and assessed the situation in the three areas mentioned above [1]. The adverse weather conditions for more than a week caused seven deaths, while more than 75,000 people belonging to 20,450 families in 13 districts were affected. (IFRC, 20 Oct 2023)

Since 1-2 November, several Districts of Sri Lanka are experiencing heavy rainfall and strong winds that caused floods, landslides and severe weather-related incidents leading to casualties and damage. According to the National Disaster Relief Centre (NDRSC), at least two people died - one in the Districts of Kurunegala and another in Kandy District- and three others have been injured in severe weather-related incidents. In addition, almost 2,400 people have been affected and 124 houses were damaged by floods, landslides and heavy rain. (ECHO, 8 Nov 2023)

The humanitarian impact is still increasing following heavy rainfall and strong winds that caused floods, landslides and severe weather-related incidents across most parts of the country since the beginning of November. According to the National Disaster Relief Centre (NDRSC), eight people have died, of whom three in Kurunegala, two in Kandy, one in Puttalam, one in Ratnapura and another in Anuradhapura District, nine have been injured, almost 34,800 have been affected, and almost 960 houses have been damaged. (ECHO, 13 Nov 2023)

The number of casualties is increasing following heavy rainfall and strong winds that caused floods, landslides and severe weather-related incidents across most parts of the country. According to the National Disaster Relief Centre (NDRSC), 19 people have died, 25 have been injured, more than 48,000 have been affected and 1,550 houses have been damaged. (ECHO, 24 Nov 2023)

Since the beginning of December, several Districts of Sri Lanka have been experiencing heavy rainfall and strong winds that caused floods, landslides and severe weather-related incidents. According to the National Disaster Relief Centre (NDRSC), at least one person died in Kurunegala District due to lightning and three people were injured in a flood event that occurred in Kilinochchi District. In addition, more than 2,000 people have been affected and 243 houses damaged across almost 20 districts of the country. (ECHO, 12 Dec 2023)

Heavy rainfall have been affecting most parts of Sri Lanka since 12 December, causing floods and landslides that resulted in damage. According to the National Disaster Relief Centre (NDRSC), two people died due to floods across Mullaitivu District (Northern ProRatnvince) and Rantnapura Districts (Sabaragamuwa Province), three have been injured and more than 25,958 people have been affected. In addition, and 244 houses have been partially damaged and four fully damaged. (ECHO, 19 Dec 2023)

Since the end of 2023, heavy rain and strong wind has been hitting parts of the country, causing floods, landslides, and severe weather-related incidents and leading to casualties and damage. According to the National Disaster Relief Centre (NDRSC), two people died - one in Kohmale and another in Madulla Districts- and one person was injured due to severe weather-related incidents. In addition, almost 110,000 people have been affected and more than 324 houses damaged by floods, and severe weather events, across 13 districts of the country. Ampara and Batticaloa Districts in the eastern province are the most affected. (ECHO, 11 Jan 2024)

In early January 2024, extensive rainfall across Sri Lanka led to widespread flooding in various regions of the island, causing a substantial impact on infrastructure and livelihoods. The district of Ampara bore the heaviest brunt, resulting in reduced food security in affected communities and households. [...] According to the National Disaster Relief Services Centre, over 175,000 people were affected by the floods and 294 infrastructures (houses/small and medium enterprises) were either partially or fully damaged as of 17 January. The Department of Agriculture (DOA) reports reveal extensive damage caused by the flood, with around 47,000 acres of paddy fully affected. This impact directly affects 20,064 farmers, constituting approximately 20 percent of the total cultivation area in the 2023 Maha season (74,000 hectares). (WFP, 15 Feb 2024)