Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on November 29, 2025
3 min readLast updated: January 20, 2026
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Cyclone Ditwah has led to severe flooding in Sri Lanka, resulting in 153 deaths. Over half a million people are affected, with significant financial losses reported.
By Uditha Jayasinghe
MALWANA, Sri Lanka, Nov 29 (Reuters) - At least 153 people have been killed in Sri Lanka after landslides and flooding caused by Cyclone Ditwah, officials said on Saturday, with 191 others missing and more than half a million affected nationwide.
More than 78,000 people have been moved to nearly 800 relief centres, mostly set up in schools, the Disaster Management Centre said.
Thousands of police, navy personnel and army troops are distributing food, clearing roads and moving trapped families to safety.
WORST FLOODING IN A DECADE
Those who have found refuge in relief centres include Mallika Kumari, whose home was quickly submerged up to the roof on Friday. She bundled her three children into a rented lorry with her husband and spent the night by the roadside.
Kumari and her 554 neighbours live alongside the Kelani River in Malwana, 20 km (12 miles) from Colombo, and face the worst flooding in a decade.
Rescue boats are transporting stranded families, including Kumari, who hoped to collect her children's clothes and school books from her home.
"I first heard about the flood warning on TV but we never expected the river to overflow so quickly. We just rushed out of the house without anything," Kumari told Reuters.
"We haven't even had breakfast. Two of my sons have caught the flu. I have to get them medication. I've brought a few garbage bags to collect their clothes."
In the rush, Kumari left behind her cat, which was later picked up by a navy boat and brought to dry land.
HOMES UNDER WATER AND WITHOUT POWER
The flooding in Malwana and other low-lying areas near Colombo has left most homes under water and without power, authorities said.
Meteorological authorities have forecast continued rains over the weekend, raising fears of further flooding in already waterlogged regions.
Some residents opted to remain in the upper floors of partially submerged homes, protecting their belongings.
Local businesses, including pharmacies, supermarkets and fabric shops are inundated, heightening concerns over financial losses as shop owners worry about long-term recovery.
At the Dalugala Thakiya Mosque, volunteers prepared rice parcels with chicken and dhal curry for flood victims, aiming to increase capacity by Sunday.
"We are getting more requests for food because people who work daily jobs cannot find work and are running low on savings," said Risham Ahmed, one of the meal organisers.
"They are worried about how to piece their lives back together."
(Reporting by Uditha Jayasinghe, Editing by Timothy Heirtage)
Disaster management refers to the processes involved in preparing for, responding to, and recovering from emergencies and disasters, aiming to minimize their impact on communities and ensure safety.
Humanitarian aid is assistance provided to people in need, particularly during crises such as natural disasters or conflicts, aimed at saving lives, alleviating suffering, and maintaining human dignity.
Economic recovery is the process of restoring a country's economy after a period of downturn, involving measures to stimulate growth, reduce unemployment, and stabilize financial systems.
Insurance is a financial arrangement that provides protection against potential future losses or damages, where individuals or entities pay premiums in exchange for coverage.
A financial crisis is a situation in which the value of financial institutions or assets drops significantly, often leading to widespread economic instability and loss of confidence in financial systems.
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