​Last updated: 1 December 2025 (06:00 a.m.)

Supporting Communities Affected by Floods and Landslides

Sri Lanka is facing one of the most severe natural disasters in recent years as Cyclone Ditwah continues to drive widespread flooding, landslides, and infrastructure damage. Rescue and relief efforts remain challenging due to submerged roads, unstable slopes, debris blockages, and hazardous weather. While rainfall has reduced in some areas, river levels remain dangerously high and downstream flooding continues—especially along major river basins. 

Situation Overview (as of 1 December 2025)

  • 334 confirmed fatalities
  • 370 missing persons
  • 309,607 families / 1,118,929 people affected
  • Major disruptions to transport, power, health services, and communications
  • Ongoing high risk of secondary flooding, landslides, falling trees, and weakened structure collapse

Flooding has also contaminated drinking-water sources, increasing the risk of waterborne disease outbreaks, particularly in overcrowded shelters.

For a more deatailed breakdown on our efforts, please download the following situation report
sevalanka_foundation_cyclone_ditwah_response_strategy.pdf
File Size: 9652 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Emergency Response Status

  • Expanding boat and helicopter rescue operations in flooded zones
  • Providing temporary shelters, tarpaulins, and essential clothing
  • Distributing food rations, clean drinking water, and hygiene kits
  • Delivering baby care items, sanitary products, and essential medicines
  • Deploying mobile medical teams and disease surveillance support
​

Ongoing Needs and Recovery

Search & Rescue operations are being carried out by:
Sri Lanka Army
​Sri Lanka Navy
Sri Lanka Air Force
Disaster Management Centre (DMC)

Active rescue zones include:
  • Gampola
  • Polonnaruwa
  • Mullaitivu coastal belt
  • Low-lying Colombo suburbs

Key constraints:
  • Blocked access roads
  • Lightning and poor visibility
  • Unstable slopes
  • Limited access to submerged communities
  • Communication failures in multiple districts
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​Where Sevalanka Is Focusing Support

Cyclone Ditwah has caused widespread infrastructure damage, particularly in Badulla, Mullaitivu, Batticaloa, and Polonnaruwa, with impacts to roads, bridges, dams, and essential services.

Based on Sevalanka’s organisational outreach, priority districts and field presence include:
  • Northern Province: Main offices in Jaffna, Vavuniya, Kilinochchi; focal points in Mannar, Mullaitivu
  • Eastern Province: Main offices in Batticaloa, Ampara; focal point in Puttalam
  • North Central: Anuradhapura
  • Central: Nuwara Eliya
  • Southern: Main office in Galle; sub-office in Deniyaya (Matara)
  • Western: Colombo, Kalutara
  • North Western: Puttalam, Kurunegala 

Sevalanka Foundation’s Four-Stage Assistance Plan

Sevalanka’s response is structured to meet immediate survival needs and support recovery over time:

1) Immediate Needs – Food Security & Emergency Relief
  • Operate community kitchens providing two meals per day in marginalized and unreached areas
  • Distribute dry ration packs for three months prioritizing:
    • Low-income daily wage earners
    • Single-parent / women-headed households
    • Low-income families who lost livelihoods
    • Families with pregnant/lactating mothers and nutritionally vulnerable children
    • Families with physically/mentally challenged or terminally ill members
    • Elders without permanent income or support

2) Short-Term Needs – Essential Items & Immediate Recovery
  • Provide essential household items (kitchen utensils, food containers, clothing, storage boxes)
  • Supply cleaning tools and agents (mops, brooms, Dettol, Harpic, etc.)
  • Support school children (books, stationery, uniforms, shoes)
  • Clean and restore public buildings used as welfare centres (schools, religious institutions)

3) Medium-Term Recovery – Livelihood & Community Infrastructure
  • Support livelihood restoration (paddy/crop cultivation, fisheries, small businesses, small tea & spice growers)
  • Repair damaged community infrastructure (roads, dams, bridges)
  • Restore irrigation structures (minor tanks, canals)
  • Clean and rehabilitate contaminated drinking-water wells
  • Replace school items and essential household assets

4) Long-Term Rehabilitation & Development – Sustainable Recovery
  • Re-establish long-term livelihood systems
  • Strengthen resilience in agriculture, fisheries, and small enterprise
  • Continue rebuilding critical infrastructure and water systems
  • Provide longer-term support for vulnerable families to restore stability and self-reliance
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Specific regional appeals that you can support

Each of the regional appeals below highlights the specific needs of families in those areas. Donors can view the situation in each province and choose to support directly through financial contributions or in-kind donations.

How You Can HelpYour support can provide:
  • Emergency food and dry rations
  • Clothing for all age groups
  • Tents, tarpaulins, and blankets for temporary shelters
  • Hygiene and medical supplies (panadol, sanitizer, soap, baby items)
  • Clean drinking water and essential household goods
​

Donate Now 

  • Bank: Hatton National Bank
  • Branch: Boralesgamuwa
  • Address: 24, Maharagama Road, Boralesgamuwa
  • Account Name: Sevalanka Foundation (Guarantee) Limited
  • Account Number: 112010121957
  • Type of Account: Current
  • SWIFT Code: HBLILKLX

Kindly share deposit receipts via WhatsApp to +94 70 340 6586
For more information, email [email protected] or call +94 77 770 7512
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​Below are Sevalanka’s current regional disaster relief appeals. Click to view each update and learn how your support is making an impact: