Colombo, Sri Lanka — November 29, 2025 (Agencies) — Sri Lanka has urgently appealed for international assistance after Cyclone Ditwah unleashed devastating floods and landslides across the country, leaving 132 people dead and 176 missing, according to the Disaster Management Centre (DMC).
The storm has destroyed nearly 15,000 homes and displaced around 44,000 people, who are now sheltering in state-run facilities. Officials warn that nearly half a million citizens have been affected by the disaster.
Although Cyclone Ditwah shifted north toward India on Saturday, heavy rains continued to batter Sri Lanka’s central districts. In Kandy, 115 km east of Colombo, landslides blocked major roads, further complicating relief efforts.
DMC Director-General Sampath Kotuwegoda said thousands of personnel from the army, navy, and air force have been deployed to strengthen relief operations. “Relief operations with the help of the armed forces are under way,” he told reporters in Colombo.
The Sri Lanka Red Cross Society reported that many residents remain stranded in flood-hit areas, with rescue crews struggling to reach them. Authorities issued evacuation orders for communities along the Kelani River, which burst its banks on Friday evening, forcing hundreds into temporary shelters.
Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya met with Colombo-based diplomats to brief them on the crisis and request international support. The government has also appealed to Sri Lankans abroad to contribute cash donations to aid relief efforts.
Officials emphasized that immediate assistance is critical as the country grapples with widespread destruction, displacement, and the urgent need for food, medical supplies, and shelter.