A special briefing for the diplomatic community in Sri Lanka was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, chaired by Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya and Minister Vijitha Herath.

Senior officials from the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) and the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) were also in attendance.

Prime Minister Amarasuriya expressed deep appreciation to the diplomatic community for their swift support following the recent floods and landslides. She noted that although Sri Lanka experienced one of its most severe disasters in recent years, rapid government response and public resilience had enabled significant progress in relief and recovery operations.

The Prime Minister confirmed that no tourists were harmed during the disaster and that all previously inaccessible areas are now reachable. Massive cleanup and decontamination efforts are ongoing, and communications have been restored across affected regions.

She highlighted that relief, evacuation, and emergency assistance were carried out through the collective efforts of the tri-forces, police, health workers, volunteers, and local authorities. Remaining challenges include infrastructure restoration, resettlement, and long-term disaster mitigation. She welcomed the humanitarian, technical and financial support offered by Sri Lanka’s international partners.

DMC Director General Maj. Gen. (Retd) Sampath Kotuwegoda presented detailed updates, noting that 22 districts were severely affected, with some areas recording up to 540 mm of rainfall and winds of 70 km/h. Early assessments show that 2.3 million people were exposed, 1.8 million directly affected, and 1.1 million hectares of land impacted. This includes 40,152 pregnant women, who have been prioritised for assistance.

He highlighted areas where further international support—such as improved early-warning systems and climate-response technology—would be valuable.

SLTDA Chairman Buddhika Hewawasam assured diplomats that major tourist zones remain operational, and safety assessments and contingency plans are in place for the peak season.

Chairman of the Hotel Association of Sri Lanka, Ashoka Hettigoda, noted that coastal hotels from Marawila to Passikudah remain fully operational, many at 60–65% occupancy, while hotels in Nuwara Eliya are partially functioning. He emphasised that ongoing tourism support is the best assistance the international community can offer Sri Lanka at this time.

Diplomats extended condolences to affected communities and reaffirmed readiness to support both immediate relief efforts and long-term rebuilding. They commended the government’s transparent and coordinated crisis management.

Prime Minister Amarasuriya thanked all representatives for their cooperation and reiterated the government’s commitment to a resilient, inclusive recovery. She stressed that strengthening disaster preparedness, climate resilience, and institutional capacity would be central to Sri Lanka’s future development agenda.

The meeting was also attended by Deputy Minister Arun Hemachandra, Secretary to the Prime Minister Pradeep Saputhanthri, and Foreign Ministry Secretary Aruni Ranaraja.

The Department of Meteorology has issued a severe lightning advisory effective until 11.00 PM tonight, warning residents in several regions to remain vigilant due to the risk of strong lightning activity.

According to the advisory, the warning applies to the Western and Sabaragamuwa Provinces, as well as the Galle and Matara Districts.

The department urges the public to exercise caution and take necessary safety measures during this period.

Authorities have specifically alerted residents in Colombo, Gampaha, Galle, Matara, Kalutara, Kegalle, and Ratnapura, advising them to stay indoors during thunderstorms and avoid open areas, tall trees, and electrical appliances.

The Meteorology Department further requested the public to follow official updates and adhere to safety instructions to minimize risks associated with severe lightning.

In an unprecedented show of industry solidarity, Sri Lanka’s leading tourism organisations The Hotels Association of Sri Lanka (THASL) and the Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO) have teamed up with Sri Lanka Tourism to launch an urgent global reassurance drive, affirming that the country’s tourism sector is functioning normally despite the destruction caused by Cyclone Ditwah.

The two powerful industry bodies have formally requested Sri Lanka Tourism to roll out a coordinated social media and public relations campaign aimed at dispelling negative perceptions overseas.

The campaign is intended to confirm that hotels, transport networks, attractions, excursions, and most tourism zones remain fully operational. This comes ahead of a key diplomatic briefing scheduled for tomorrow (6), where authorities will update all foreign missions on the rapid restoration of tourism services.

At a joint media briefing yesterday, SLTDA Chairman Buddhika Hewawasam, THASL President Asoka Hettigoda and SLAITO President Nalin Jayasundera emphasised that Sri Lanka’s tourism sector has historically proven its resilience during crises  and the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah is no exception. They stressed that the upcoming season remains strong, buoyed by industry cooperation, steady arrival numbers, and confidence expressed by global travel partners.

Hewawasam said the Tourism Ministry is conducting a full diplomatic outreach campaign spearheaded by Tourism and Foreign Affairs Minister Vijitha Herath. A second round of consultations with ambassadors and high commissioners will be held on Friday, including virtual engagement with Sri Lankan missions abroad. The objective is to give foreign governments an accurate assessment of infrastructure readiness, hotel operations, and traveller safety.

According to Hewawasam, foreign missions have already praised the authorities for their efficient handling of stranded tourists and quick restoration of essential services. He added that arrival statistics up to 30 November align with expected seasonal patterns. “There have been no significant cancellations. Only a marginal 1–5% decline from last-minute regional bookings was seen, primarily from India,” he said.

He highlighted that charter flights, scheduled airline operations, and cruise tourism have not been disrupted. This week, TUI’s Mein Schiff 06, carrying over 2,000 passengers, docked in Colombo  a strong signal of continued confidence.

THASL President Hettigoda confirmed that hotels in major tourist corridors including Negombo, Pasikudah, the Cultural Triangle and Jaffna are operating at 65–70% occupancy. Access to Kandy and Nuwara Eliya is improving, with single-lane travel restored. He emphasised that wildlife parks, cultural landmarks, and marine excursions are operating normally and that no shortages of essentials have been reported in tourist areas.

To further strengthen international messaging, THASL, SLAITO and the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) will launch a global digital campaign projecting that 90% of the island’s tourism offerings remain fully accessible.

SLAITO President Jayasundera said global tour operators have not withdrawn their commitments and continue promoting Sri Lanka as a top-tier destination. He added that southern destinations, including Yala and Udawalawe, remain unaffected, with visitors offering highly positive feedback.

He stressed that cancellations remain “negligible” compared to strong winter-season bookings, underscoring the industry’s confidence that Sri Lanka’s recovery is well underway.

The United Nations has taken a central role in mapping Sri Lanka’s urgent humanitarian and reconstruction needs after Cyclone Ditwah, launching a Joint Rapid Needs Assessment (JRNA) expected to shape how the country rebuilds its shattered communities.

Developed in coordination with the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) and a wide network of humanitarian partners, the initiative aims to deliver a precise, data-driven understanding of the cyclone’s damage an essential step as the country grapples with destroyed homes, disrupted livelihoods, and battered infrastructure.

According to the UN Office of the Resident Coordinator, the assessment includes geospatial analysis to track the extent of flooding, infrastructure destruction, and displacement across affected districts.

This satellite-supported mapping is being combined with field-level data collection coordinated across multiple organisations, allowing authorities to identify immediate humanitarian gaps and long-term recovery priorities with greater accuracy than in previous disasters.

The Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) comprising UN agencies, international NGOs and donorsis meeting regularly to coordinate assessments and channel support to critical sectors.

 These include food security, agriculture and livelihoods; nutrition; education; water and sanitation; health services including sexual and reproductive health; protection of vulnerable populations; shelter and non-food items; camp coordination; and early recovery measures.

 This sectoral approach ensures that both life-saving needs and medium-term reconstruction requirements are evaluated simultaneously.

Already, UN agencies have begun delivering emergency relief items to the hardest-hit communities. Supplies dispatched include energy biscuits, therapeutic foods, micronutrient supplements for children, safe drinking water, tarpaulins, hygiene kits, and maternity and dignity kits for women affected by the disaster.

These interventions are designed to stabilise communities while the full assessment is compiled, preventing further deterioration in living conditions as families wait for more extensive rebuilding support.

The JRNA’s greatest value lies in its ability to guide effective reconstruction. By producing a clear, evidence-based picture of losses whether to homes, schools, farmland, health services, or local economies—the initiative helps the Government and donors avoid duplication, ensure equitable aid allocation, and prioritise areas requiring urgent rebuilding.

Analysts note that Sri Lanka’s post-disaster responses in the past have suffered from uneven targeting and slow deployment, making this coordinated UN-led approach critical to avoiding similar pitfalls.

Moreover, the assessment’s integration of protection, education, and health considerations ensures that rebuilding is not limited to physical structures but extends to restoring community services and supporting vulnerable groups, including women, children, and displaced families. The inclusion of early recovery planning also signals a shift from short-term relief towards structured, long-term reconstruction.

 As Cyclone Ditwah leaves a costly trail of destruction, Sri Lanka faces a long recovery horizon. The UN’s rapid, data-driven needs assessment provides the foundation for a more transparent, coordinated, and impactful rebuilding effort, one that, if properly implemented, could strengthen resilience and improve disaster-response systems for the future.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has directed officials to prioritize the restoration of damaged road infrastructure to ensure the swift normalization of public life and the uninterrupted flow of transport services following the recent disaster.

The President issued these instructions during a meeting held yesterday (04) at the Presidential Secretariat with senior officials from the Ministry of Transport & Highways and the Ministry of Finance. The discussion focused on assessing the extent of damage caused to the country’s bridges and highways by Cyclone Ditwah and determining urgent measures required for rapid restoration.

Officials reported that approximately 247 km of A- and B-grade roads have been damaged due to landslides, flooding, and rising water levels, while 40 bridges have been destroyed. They further confirmed that 175 of the 256 damaged road sections have now been reopened to vehicular traffic.

The meeting also addressed estimated repair timelines, funding allocation, and priority areas for immediate reconstruction.

Among those present were Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development Bimal Ratnayake; Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake; Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development Dr. Harshaana Suriyapperuma; Senior Economic Advisor to the President Duminda Hulangamuwa; Secretary to the Ministry of Transport, Highways and Urban Development Kapila Perera; Senior Additional Secretary to the President Russel Aponsu; Road Development Authority Chairman T. Paaskaran; Director General K.W. Kandambi; and other senior officials.