Sri Lanka Appeals for International Aid After Cyclone Ditwah Devastation

Colombo_ Sri Lanka, has appealed for international assistance as the death toll from Cyclone Ditwah reached 123, with another 130 reported missing, officials said on Saturday. The extreme weather has destroyed nearly 15,000 homes, forcing almost 44,000 people into state-run temporary shelters, according to the Disaster Management Centre (DMC).

Director-General Sampath Kotuwegoda confirmed that relief operations have been intensified with the deployment of thousands of armies, navy, and air force personnel. “Relief operations with the help of the armed forces are underway,” Kotuwegoda said, highlighting the scale of the ongoing emergency response.

Impact on Infrastructure and Communications

Fresh landslides struck the central district of Kandy, 115 kilometers east of Colombo, submerging main access roads in several locations. Flooding also snapped fiber optic cables, disrupting mobile phone networks across affected regions. A special unit has been deployed to restore communication lines, as remote areas remain inaccessible due to mudslides in mountainous tea-growing regions.

Evacuation and Humanitarian Response

Authorities issued evacuation orders for residents along the Kelani River, which overflowed on Friday evening, forcing hundreds into temporary shelters. While rain has eased in most areas, the northern parts of the island continue to experience showers from the residual effects of Cyclone Ditwah. DMC officials warned that flood levels could exceed those recorded in 2016, when 71 people were killed.

Global Support and Regional Assistance

Indian authorities were the first to respond, sending two planeloads of relief supplies, while an Indian warship already in Colombo donated its rations to aid victims. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences and pledged additional support as needed.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan also extended solidarity, stating that Islamabad was ready to provide any support in rescue, recovery, and relief efforts.

 “Pakistan stands in solidarity with the people and government of Sri Lanka in this hour of grief.”

 He tweeted.

Historical Context of Flooding in Sri Lanka

This week’s floods mark the highest weather-related death toll since June last year, surpassing previous incidents in 2024 and 2016. Sri Lanka experienced its worst floods since the turn of the century in June 2003, when 254 people were killed. Officials fear the destruction from Cyclone Ditwah may rank among the deadliest in recent memory, further underscoring the need for urgent international humanitarian aid.