Sri Lanka braces for more flooding as Cyclone Ditwah leaves 46 dead

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka is facing the threat of further flooding after Cyclone Ditwah tore across the island on Friday, killing at least 46 people and leaving 23 others missing, officials said. Torrential rain and gale-force winds continue to batter several regions, with authorities warning the situation may worsen over the next 12 hours.

According to the Disaster Management Centre (DMC), more than 44,000 people have been affected nationwide, forcing thousands to flee their homes and seek shelter in schools and public buildings. Most of the casualties were reported in eastern and central districts, where landslides triggered by over 300mm of rainfall swept away homes and roads.

The Irrigation Department said floodwaters were rising across the southern and eastern provinces and could expand further into major population centres, including Colombo. The capital witnessed severe disruption, prompting the Colombo Stock Exchange to halt trading early, while schools and train services remained suspended.

Military and police teams are continuing rescue operations in flood-hit areas. The air force said at least 13 people stranded on a bridge in Polonnaruwa, about 220 kilometres northeast of Colombo, were airlifted to safety. Video footage shared with media showed multiple families rescued from rooftops, along with a man clinging to the top of a coconut tree.

Operations at Colombo’s Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) were also affected, with heavy rains forcing 15 incoming flights to divert to airports in India, including Trivandrum and Cochin. Meanwhile, the Indian High Commission confirmed the delivery of 6.5 metric tons of food supplies in support of relief efforts, as the cyclone continued to move towards southern India.

More than 20,000 military and police personnel have been deployed in rescue and evacuation missions across flood-hit towns, including the outskirts of Colombo, where residents were seen hauling belongings through waist-deep water.

“Strong winds are making the floods worse,” said Mohammed Rumy, 70, a resident of Wellampitiya. “We moved furniture from nearby houses to safer ground. Now I’m heading to the shelter to stay with my family.”