Cyclone Ditwah Devastation to Cost Sri Lanka Up to USD 7 Billion, Says Official

Colombo: Sri Lanka is facing severe economic damage following Cyclone Ditwah, with the total cost of the disaster estimated to be between USD 6 billion and 7 billion, or roughly 3 to 5 percent of the nation's GDP. This figure was confirmed by Prabath Chandrakirthi, the Commissioner General of Essential Services, as he spoke to the media on Wednesday.

The cyclone has left a trail of destruction, causing widespread flooding, landslides, and severe infrastructure collapse. As of now, at least 465 people have lost their lives, while 366 others remain missing. The impact has left several districts isolated, severely straining Sri Lanka's disaster-response capacity. The devastating cyclone has affected over 14 lakh people, with more than 2,33,000 individuals taking shelter in 1,441 relief centers across the island.

The damage has been felt nationwide, with all 25 districts affected. In light of this, Prabath Chandrakirthi said the government has made an assessment of the financial toll, estimating that the damage could range from USD 6 to 7 billion. The official added that new legal provisions would be necessary to expedite post-disaster procedures. Under current laws, death certificates can only be issued after a waiting period of six months. However, authorities plan to fast-track this process to provide relief to affected families sooner.

In addition, to address the immediate food shortages caused by the disaster, the Sri Lankan government has temporarily allowed the importation of frozen vegetables. This move comes after the central hilly districts, which are the main vegetable-producing areas, were devastated by landslides and flooding.

The areas worst affected by the cyclone include Kandy, which reported the highest number of deaths at 118, followed by Nuwara Eliya (89) and Badulla (83), all located in the central hill country.

To help affected families, the government has increased the house-cleaning allowance from LKR 10,000 to LKR 25,000, which will be distributed without requiring ownership verification. The Disaster Management Centre has reported that 783 homes have been completely destroyed, while another 31,417 homes have suffered partial damage.

The cyclone also caused massive disruptions in communication services, with over 4,000 communication towers going offline due to floods and landslides. However, authorities have managed to restore around 2,800 of these towers, and all disrupted services are expected to be fully restored by Thursday.

Sri Lanka continues to grapple with the aftermath of this devastating cyclone, and recovery efforts are underway to address the widespread destruction and the urgent needs of the affected population.