Sri Lanka hit hard: Over 15,000 homes destroyed, 200 roads impassable

Colombo, Dec 1 (Daily Mirror) - According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), 998,918 people across all 25 districts of Sri Lanka have been affected by the severe flooding and landslides triggered by Cyclone Ditwah, which made landfall on November 28 before moving back over the Bay of Bengal. The disaster has resulted in 212 deaths and 218 people reported missing.

More than 180,000 people from over 51,000 families are currently sheltering in 1,094 government-run safety centres, as search and rescue operations continue. Initial assessments revealed that over 15,000 homes have been destroyed, while more than 200 roads remain impassable, at least 10 bridges have been damaged, and sections of the rail network and national power grid have been affected.

The hardest-hit districts include Gampaha, Colombo, Puttalam, Mannar, Trincomalee, and Batticaloa, while deadly landslides in the central hill country have devastated Kandy, Badulla, and Matale. Flooding along the Kelani River, which runs through Colombo and surrounding low-lying areas, continues to hamper access and disrupt communication from affected communities, complicating relief operations.

Northern districts such as Jaffna have reported severe disruptions to electricity, mobile networks, and transport, leaving entire villages isolated. Access to clean water remains a major concern, with several areas receiving little or no supply.

OCHA has highlighted that Sri Lanka’s already fragile health system is under severe pressure. Several district hospitals remain flooded and are receiving only limited supplies, with critically ill patients being airlifted to functioning facilities. The World Health Organization (WHO) warned that the floods significantly increase the risk of vector-borne, food-borne, and water-borne diseases, urging communities to take precautions such as preventing mosquito bites, ensuring food safety, and using safe drinking water.

Response efforts are further hindered by recurring landslides and the breach of multiple tank bunds, including at Mavilaaru, heightening risks in Trincomalee and Batticaloa. Authorities have also warned of rising food insecurity, as submerged farmland, damaged storage facilities, and severed supply routes threaten shortages and potential price increases in the weeks ahead.

Humanitarian agencies continue to work alongside government authorities to provide relief, restore essential services, and support affected communities across the island.