Sri lanka’s unesco-protected central highlands face ecological devastation after cyclone ditwah claims 640 lives

Two weeks after Cyclone Ditwah devastated Sri Lanka, the full scope of environmental damage to the country’s most biodiverse region remains largely unknown as rescue teams continue prioritizing human safety and recovery efforts. The storm’s fury was most severe in Sri Lanka’s Central Highlands, where at least 640 people have died and 221 remain missing, according to the island’s Disaster Management Centre.

The Central Highlands represent one of Sri Lanka’s most ecologically significant landscapes, featuring towering peaks, dense forests, and critical wildlife habitats that support numerous endemic species found nowhere else on Earth. Early assessments by forest officers, wildlife staff, and local monitors reveal extensive damage across these biodiversity hotspots. The UNESCO-listed Knuckles Mountain Range suffered particularly severe ecological impacts, with multiple major landslides reported throughout the region.

“Access roads to remote areas are still blocked, so we have yet to conduct a full assessment of the situation. But the devastation is evident,” explained Pradeep Samarawickrama, an independent environmental researcher. The intense rainfall stripped away crucial topsoil around scenic locations like Glenfall waterfall in Nuwara Eliya district, leaving mountain slopes completely exposed in conditions that could severely hamper natural forest regeneration for years to come.

As Sri Lanka begins the long process of recovery, scientists and conservationists are growing increasingly concerned about the long-term impacts on these fragile mountain ecosystems that serve as vital watersheds and biodiversity refuges for the island nation.