Sri lanka grapples with recurring flood disasters after cyclone ditwah claims 474 lives

When floodwater reached Denuwarage Kusumalatha’s doorstep in the early morning hours of November 29, the 54-year-old resident of Kolonnawa knew she had to act fast. She quickly gathered her family and essential belongings, fleeing to a nearby school that had become a makeshift relief center for dozens of her neighbors. They were all seeking refuge from Cyclone Ditwah, which struck Sri Lanka with devastating force, causing the Kelani River to overflow and inundate vast areas of low-lying land.

The cyclone’s impact has been catastrophic. Official reports confirm 474 deaths, with 356 people still missing and approximately 1.6 million displaced from their homes. Kolonnawa, located in Sri Lanka’s commercial hub of Colombo, was particularly hard hit due to its geography—nearly 70 percent of the town lies below sea level. More than 100,000 residents were forced to evacuate as the swollen Kelani River breached its banks.

For Kusumalatha and her community, flooding has become a recurring nightmare. “Our houses were flooded in 2016, and in 2017. But never like this,” she explained. The town was previously identified as severely flood-prone during the 2016 disasters that also claimed numerous lives and displaced thousands across the island nation.

This pattern of repeated flooding highlights Sri Lanka’s growing vulnerability to extreme weather events. A 2021 research study confirmed the Megoda-Kolonnawa area’s high-risk status, underscoring the urgent need for comprehensive flood management strategies to protect communities living in these disaster-prone regions along major river basins.