-By A Staff Correspondent
(Lanka-e-News -03.Dec.2025, 11.00 PM) In one of the worst natural disasters to strike Sri Lanka in decades, the United Nations has issued an unequivocal commendation of the NPP Government’s emergency response to Cyclonic Storm Ditwah, praising the administration’s “unusually rapid, organised and people-centred” approach to disaster relief.
According to the Disaster Management Centre (DMC), over 1.5 million people have been affected by the catastrophe. At least 233,015 people remain in safety centres across the island, with 465 confirmed deaths and 366 individuals still missing. Satellite imagery released by humanitarian agencies shows entire stretches of farmland, highways, and riverside communities submerged following more than 350 mm of rain within 24 hours when the storm barrelled across the island on 28 November.
While rainfall has eased considerably, large swathes of the country remain inundated. The Irrigation Department has warned residents in the Malwathu Oya and Mahaweli River basins to remain on high alert as floodwaters continue to surge downstream. Although levels in the Kelani River have begun to recede, the risk of renewed overflow remains.
In the hill country, where saturated slopes have triggered multiple landslides, officials urged residents to remain vigilant for rockfalls, earth slips and signs of slope instability. Drone footage captured by emergency teams shows severely destabilised terrain in districts such as Badulla, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura.
The disaster has dealt a heavy blow to food supply chains, with vegetable prices soaring by 20 to 200 percent island-wide amid widespread crop losses. Market analysts warn that continued disruptions could strain food security unless imports and emergency stocks are mobilised quickly.
The UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) noted that monitoring systems are being enhanced to track shortages, transportation barriers and price volatility in real time.
In a briefing in Colombo, senior UN officials described the NPP Government’s handling of the crisis as “a model of inter-agency coordination,” highlighting the speed at which assistance was rolled out to devastated communities.
“The government’s response—mobilising the tri-forces, police, civil administration and international partners—has been decisive and well-structured,” a UN humanitarian official said.
“Given the scale of the disaster, Sri Lanka’s rapid action has undoubtedly saved thousands of lives.”
The NPP administration has announced a package of relief measures, beginning with a one-time grant of LKR 10,000 (USD 32) for each affected household. Weekly ration allowances have also been increased to accommodate displaced families who have lost homes, livelihoods and access to essential services.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Defence have been jointly tasked with coordinating incoming international aid to ensure equitable and efficient distribution.
The Disaster Management Centre and the National Disaster Relief Service Centre continue to lead search, rescue and evacuation operations, supported by the Army, Navy, Air Force and police divisions. Footage of military personnel wading through chest-deep water to evacuate the elderly, children and pregnant women has been widely shared across local and international media.
In some areas, civilian volunteers—many of them youth groups and university students—have joined the effort, distributing cooked meals, dry rations and medical supplies to cut-off villages.
The World Food Programme has supplied a range of non-food essentials, including:
• Domestic and communal kitchen sets for safety shelters
• Water tanks to address shortages in temporary camps
• Diesel generators to restore essential services
• Submersible pumps to accelerate drainage efforts
WFP officials confirmed they remain “on standby” for further deployment depending on government requests.
A comprehensive Joint Rapid Needs Assessment—conducted by the Government, UN agencies and humanitarian partners—is now underway. Combining data from multiple ministries with satellite imagery and GIS-based analysis, the assessment aims to map the full extent of the disaster and prioritise the most urgent humanitarian requirements.
Preliminary findings indicate extensive damage to housing, schools, health centres, irrigation systems and major road networks. Early estimates suggest that recovery and reconstruction will extend well into 2026.
As Sri Lanka endures the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah, international messages of solidarity continue to flow in. Several countries in Asia, Europe and the Middle East have pledged emergency aid, while humanitarian organisations warn that sustained support will be necessary to rebuild infrastructure and restore livelihoods.
For the NPP Government—still in its first years in office—the floods present the most severe test yet. But in the eyes of the UN, the administration’s response has demonstrated capability, discipline and, above all, a willingness to prioritise the welfare of its people in a moment of national crisis.
-By A Staff Correspondent
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by (2025-12-03 18:35:07)
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