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SITUATION OVERVIEW
A low-pressure system that developed over the southwest Bay of Bengal near Sri Lanka on 25 November 2025 rapidly intensified into a deep depression by 26 November 2025, bringing heavy rains and strong winds across the island. The Department of Meteorology, along with the Disaster Management Centre (DMC), issued early warnings as the system began to track north-northwestwards, positioning itself approximately 100 kilometres south of Sri Lanka’s eastern coastline.
Cyclone Ditwah further intensified into a devastating tropical storm system, unleashing unprecedented rainfall and severe weather impacts across Sri Lanka. According to the Disaster Management Centre’s situation report issued on 29 November 2025, at 2:00 PM, the cyclone has affected 25 districts nationwide, impacting 316,366 families and 1,151,776 individuals, with 366 confirmed deaths and 367 people reported missing. Evacuation efforts have relocated 61,612 families – amounting to 218,526 people – into 1,564 safety centres, while widespread infrastructure damage has been recorded, including more than 15,000 houses destroyed and 827 partially damaged, with figures expected to rise as assessment teams reach remote areas.
Torrential rainfall exceeding 200 millimetres within 24 hours, and in some districts surpassing 540 millimetres, triggered catastrophic flash flooding in low-lying regions and along major river basins. The Department of Meteorology issued a ‘RED ALERT’ on 27 November, the highest warning level, covering both land and sea areas. By 28-29 November, the cyclone had tracked north-northwestward, moving away from Sri Lanka toward Tamil Nadu and Puducherry in India, where red alerts were also issued for coastal regions anticipating extreme rainfall. Despite the system’s gradual departure, Sri Lanka remained under critical threat through 30 November, with forecasts of an additional 200 millimetres of rainfall likely to worsen flood risks, while the Irrigation Department’s flood warning remained in effect until 3:00 PM on 30 November.
In response to the widespread devastation, the Government of Sri Lanka declared a nationwide state of emergency, confirming that all districts have been severely affected by Cyclone Ditwah. The Sri Lanka Red Cross Society (SLRCS) has mobilised its branches and volunteers to conduct assessments, collect impact data from the respective districts, and provide First Aid services, while the national headquarters (NHQ) has begun sending essential household items to the branches of landslide affected districts to support the people affected.
Access to many impacted areas remains severely constrained, with more than 200 roads still impassable and at least 10 key bridges damaged, limiting overland delivery and restricting population movement from isolated communities. The President of Sri Lanka declared a nationwide state of emergency on 28 November in response to the severe impacts of Cyclone Ditwah, granting the government broad powers under the Public Security Ordinance to safeguard public order and ensure the continuity of essential services. Through an Extraordinary Gazette, the Essential Public Services Act No. 61 of 1979 was also activated, legally designating critical sectors such as healthcare, water supply, electricity, transport, communications, and disaster response operations as essential to the life of communities. This declaration prohibits strikes or work stoppages in these services and obliges workers to continue their duties, thereby guaranteeing uninterrupted delivery of vital public services during the crisis. Together, the state of emergency and the activation of the Essential Public Services Act provide the government with the authority and mechanisms needed to stabilise the situation, protect vulnerable populations, and coordinate national disaster response more effectively in the face of widespread flooding and infrastructure disruption caused by the cyclone.
Assessments are currently underway, and with the situation still evolving, the full scale of the impact has yet to be determined. As more detailed information emerges from field assessments and coordination with local authorities, the Emergency Appeal may be revised to more accurately reflect the needs, priorities, and required level of support.