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Torrential rains and floods triggered by Cyclone Ditwah person killed 123 radical crossed Sri Lanka truthful far, with another 130 inactive missing, the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said connected Saturday (November 29, 2025).
Director General Sampath Kotuwegoda said, “Relief operations are underway with 43,995 radical moved to State-run payment centres aft their homes were destroyed successful the week-long dense rains.”
“The upwind strategy was moving distant from the land towards neighbouring India, but it has already near monolithic destruction,” the DMC said.
"Relief operations with the assistance of the equipped forces are underway," Mr. Kotuwegoda told reporters successful Colombo.
The effects of the upwind strategy person been felt since Monday (November 24, 2025), though Cyclone Ditwah made landfall connected Wednesday (November 26, 2025), triggering grounds rainfall crossed the island.
The flooding concern successful low-lying areas worsened connected Saturday (November 29, 2025), prompting authorities to contented evacuation orders for those surviving on the banks of the Kelani River, which flows into the Indian Ocean from Colombo.
A antheral carrying a kid connected his enarthrosis wades done a flooded street, pursuing dense rainfall successful Wellampitiya, Sri Lanka, connected November 28, 2025. | Photo Credit: Reuters
“The Kelani burst its banks connected Friday (November 28, 2025) evening, forcing hundreds of radical to determination to impermanent shelters,” the DMC said.
Rains had subsided successful astir parts of the country, including the capital, but parts of the island's northbound were experiencing showers owed to the residual effects of Cyclone Ditwah.
Officials said, “India had rushed a planeload of supplies aboriginal connected Saturday (November 29) for the victims.” Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences implicit the nonaccomplishment of beingness successful Sri Lanka and said New Delhi was acceptable to nonstop much aid.
"We basal acceptable to supply much assistance and assistance arsenic the concern evolves," PM Modi said connected X (formerly Twitter).
My heartfelt condolences to the radical of Sri Lanka who person mislaid their loved ones owed to Cyclone Ditwah. I commune for the safety, comfortableness and swift betterment of each affected families.
In solidarity with our closest maritime neighbour, India has urgently dispatched relief…
The authorities has deployed the equipped forces to bolster rescue and alleviation operations crossed the country, with subject helicopters and boats utilized to evacuate marooned residents.
DMC officials said they expected flood levels to beryllium worse than successful 2016, erstwhile 71 radical were killed nationwide.
This week's weather-related toll is the highest since June past year, erstwhile 26 radical were killed pursuing dense rains. In December, 17 radical died successful flooding and landslides.
The worst flooding Sri Lanka has experienced since the crook of the period occurred successful June 2003, erstwhile 254 radical were killed.
