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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 from 26 November as the system began to track north-northwestwards, positioning itself approximately 100 kilometres south of Sri Lanka’s eastern coastline.
Cyclone Ditwah intensified into a devastating tropical storm system, unleashing unprecedented rainfall and severe weather impacts across Sri Lanka. According to the DMC’s situation report issued on 29 November 2025 at 2:00 p.m., the cyclone affected 25 districts nationwide, impacting 490,385 families and 1,702,719 individuals, with 643 confirmed deaths and 183 people reported missing (Disaster Management Centre, Sri Lanka). Initial data shows that more than 218,000 people from at least 61,000 families were evacuated to 1,564 safety centres run by the government. Many people affected have begun returning from safety centres or have started living with their relatives. As of 17 December, more than 66,000 people from at least 22,000 families remain in 732 evacuation centres. Widespread infrastructure damage has been reported, including more than 107,000 houses destroyed and 101,055 partially damaged. Torrential rainfall exceeding 200 mm within 24 hours, and in some districts surpassing 540 mm, triggered catastrophic flash flooding in low-lying areas and along major river basins. The Department of Meteorology issued a ‘RED ALERT’ on 27 November, the highest level of warning, 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 mm of rainfall likely to worsen flood risks, while the Irrigation Department’s flood warning remained in effect until 3:00 p.m. on 30 November. In response to the widespread devastation, the Government of Sri Lanka declared a nationwide state of emergency, confirming that all districts were severely affected by Cyclone Ditwah.
The Sri Lanka Red Cross Society mobilised its 25 branches and 300 volunteers to conduct assessments and collect impact data from the respective districts, providing First Aid services, while NHQ began sending essential household items to branches in landslide affected districts to support affected communities.
Access to many affected areas remains severely constrained, with more than 200 roads still impassable and at least 10 key bridges damaged, limiting overland deliveries and restricting population movement from isolated communities. The President of Sri Lanka declared a nationwide state of emergency on 28 November 2025 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 activated, legally designating critical sectors such as healthcare, water supply, electricity, transport, communications, and disaster response operations as essential to the community life. 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.