Sri Lanka Faces Deadliest Cyclone in Decades as Death Toll Surpasses 330

Colombo, Dec 2025 : Cyclone Ditwah has left Sri Lanka reeling, claiming at least 334 lives and leaving 370 people missing, local media reported, citing the Disaster Management Centre (DMC). The devastating cyclone has affected over a million people across the island, triggering widespread floods, landslides, and destruction of infrastructure.

The central hill districts bore the brunt of the disaster. Kandy recorded 88 deaths with 150 people missing, while Badulla reported 71 fatalities. Nuwara Eliya and Matale also witnessed significant loss of life, with 68 and 23 deaths respectively. According to the DMC, the cyclone has impacted 1,118,929 people from 309,607 families nationwide, Daily Mirror reported.

Rescue operations have faced multiple challenges, particularly due to damaged communication networks. The President’s Media Division stated that telecommunications operators have agreed to prioritize emergency calls to ease network congestion and strengthen disaster response coordination.

In response to the calamity, Indian rescue teams are actively collaborating with the Sri Lanka Air Force, Navy, Army, Police, and local first responders. Evacuations, emergency relief, and supply distribution are ongoing across the island to assist communities hit hardest by the floods.

Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake described the crisis as the worst natural disaster the country has faced in recent memory. In a special address to the nation, he emphasized the government’s threefold responsibility: managing the immediate emergency, restoring normalcy, and rebuilding stronger than before.

“When natural disasters strike, and when we are unable to prevent their impact, the government is responsible for managing the emergency situation, returning the country to normal, and improving conditions beyond what existed earlier,” the president said. “We remain committed to taking the necessary steps, no matter how difficult the circumstances.”

Dissanayake assured that the ongoing State of Public Emergency, instituted to streamline disaster response, will not infringe upon civil liberties. He added that urgent measures are underway to restore essential services such as water, electricity, and communications in affected regions. All displaced individuals are receiving government assistance, and no one will be left unsupported during this national crisis, he stressed.

The president also lauded the armed forces for their tireless efforts in relief operations, highlighting the role of thousands of Army, Navy, and Air Force personnel working round-the-clock. He further appealed for international solidarity, seeking assistance from friendly nations and the global Sri Lankan diaspora for recovery and reconstruction. Political parties have also been urged to unite during this critical period.

In a significant relief operation, the last batch of 104 Indian nationals stranded in cyclone-hit areas was evacuated on Monday. The Indian High Commission in Colombo confirmed that these individuals were safely flown to Thiruvananthapuram aboard an Indian Air Force aircraft.

India has ramped up rescue and relief operations under Operation Sagar Bandhu. The Indian Air Force conducted a hybrid rescue mission, deploying a Garud commando to guide stranded individuals to a helipad at Kotmale. From there, 24 people—including Indians, foreign nationals, and Sri Lankans—were evacuated to Colombo. Three critically injured individuals were airlifted for urgent medical attention. Earlier, Sri Lankan Army personnel were deployed to the landslide-affected Kotmale region to assist with relief work.

India’s commitment to supporting Sri Lanka has continued since the onset of the disaster. On November 29, a family of four stranded on a rooftop was rescued by a Chetak helicopter from INS Vikrant and safely relocated. The Indian High Commission reaffirmed that Operation Sagar Bandhu remains active to assist those in need.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has intensified its relief efforts, working alongside local authorities to reach flood-affected and landslide-prone areas. The island nation continues to face relentless rainfall, flash floods, and landslides as Cyclone Ditwah’s impact lingers, leaving communities struggling to recover from the devastation.

Team Maverick.