Friday Nov 28, 2025
Friday Nov 28, 2025
Friday, 28 November 2025 05:53 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Flood-hit residents from Ella, Mahawa
Sri Lanka’s weather emergency continued to worsen yesterday, with the Disaster Management Centre reporting that the death toll has risen to 47 while nearly 6,000 people have been affected across multiple districts over two days. Nearly 21 individuals remain missing as floods, landslides and collapsing structures intensify across the country.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday directed the President’s Fund to release Rs 1 million as compensation for each disaster fatality. Officials have been instructed to ensure that payments are made to families without delay. The President has also asked Members of Parliament to visit their constituencies and support local relief efforts as conditions deteriorate.
Parliament has postponed the Committee Stage of the Budget debates scheduled for today and tomorrow in response to the worsening disaster situation. The decision was taken at the Party Leaders’ meeting held yesterday afternoon. Parliament will reconvene on Monday, with sittings extended into the night on both Monday and Tuesday. Debates originally scheduled for this week will instead be taken up after 6.00 p.m. on those days.
The Disaster Management Centre issued a special statement warning that residents in landslide-prone areas must remain on high alert.
The National Building Research Organisation has issued red alerts for several districts, and communities living along unstable slopes have been advised to strictly follow instructions issued by District Disaster Management Centres and Divisional Secretariats.
Reservoir levels continue to rise, and sluice gates have been opened at several major reservoirs by the Irrigation Department and Mahaweli Authority. People living downstream were urged to remain prepared for sudden water-level increases and to evacuate if instructed by the Police or Security Forces. The public was asked to minimise travel, maintain emergency supplies and report incidents to the 117 hotline or the DMC’s mobile number.
The weather system off Sri Lanka has intensified into Cyclone Ditwah over the Bay of Bengal, drawing moisture-laden winds across the country. Continuous rainfall has left soil fully saturated, increasing the risk of landslides. Batticaloa recorded more than 300 millimetres of rain, and Kandy reported 180 millimetres. The Met Department has forecast further rainfall above 200 millimetres in several districts as the system develops.
Transport services suffered widespread disruption throughout the day. The Colombo–Kandy Road remains closed, and several upcountry routes are still inaccessible due to slope failures. The Kandy–Nuwara Eliya road is closed at Gerandi Ella.
Landslides and fallen trees have forced the suspension of multiple train services, including the Matale line and several hill-country sections. Night mail trains between Colombo and Badulla have been cancelled.
A passenger bus trapped in floodwaters in Kumbukkana was evacuated without casualties, although officials warned that similar incidents are likely.
The Road Development Authority reported severe damage to 75 roads and has deployed rapid-response units. Toll charges on expressways have been suspended to ease travel during the emergency.
Air travel may also face disruptions today, with the Civil Aviation Ministry announcing that flights unable to land at Bandaranaike International Airport during adverse weather will be diverted to Trivandrum or Cochin.
Flood warnings are in force for several river basins. The Irrigation Department said a major flood situation is likely in the low-lying areas along the Mahaweli River in the Yatinuwara and Gangawata Korale Divisions within the next 24 hours. A minor flood advisory was also issued for the Kelani River valley in Ruwanwella. Authorities asked residents and motorists to be alert to rising river levels.
An emergency disaster situation has been declared in the Kandy District. National parks in several affected regions have been temporarily closed. The government has declared a special holiday for all state institutions, while international schools, preschools and early childhood centres have been asked to remain closed until conditions improve. A/L examinations scheduled for this week have been postponed.
Preliminary assessments indicate that more than 600,000 acres of farmland have been destroyed by floods and excessive rainfall. Analysts expect a rise in vegetable and staple food prices in the coming days.
Relief and rescue operations continued throughout the day. An Air Force Bell 212 helicopter rescued three people who were stranded on a rooftop in Ella, Mahawa. Search teams are working to reach cut-off communities in Badulla and other districts where access remains severely restricted due to fallen trees, submerged bridges and unstable slopes. Officials said the full extent of the destruction will only become clear once conditions stabilise.
With rainfall expected to continue, authorities have warned of further landslides and floods. The public has been asked to stay alert, follow official instructions and avoid unnecessary travel until the situation improves.
