Over 50 Killed in Sri Lanka Floods Amid Ongoing Rescue Operations

Updated by Faith Barbara N Ruhinda at 1515 EAT on Friday 28 November 2025

Floods and landslides triggered by Cyclone Ditwah have claimed at least 56 lives across Sri Lanka, authorities reported Friday, as torrential rains and flash floods battered large parts of the island. The storm made landfall early Friday, dumping more than 300 mm of rain in some areas and unleashing destructive floods and deadly landslides — especially in the central tea‑growing highlands.

The disaster has devastated homes, infrastructure and livelihoods. At least 600 houses were damaged and many others destroyed, while entire villages were submerged or buried under mudslides.

Road and railway networks have been disrupted, train services suspended, and major transportation links cut, leaving many communities isolated and rescue operations complicated by blocked routes.

To meet the urgent humanitarian need, the military, navy, and air force have been deployed nationwide, using helicopters, boats, and armored personnel carriers to evacuate stranded residents and deliver aid to flood‑hit regions. At least 44,000 people from more than 12,000 families have been displaced or moved to public shelters as water levels continue rising and weather warnings remain in place.

With the extraordinary rainfall and unstable slopes persisting, authorities have declared emergency conditions and urged residents in vulnerable zones to remain alert. Rescue efforts are ongoing, but officials warn that the death toll may rise as search teams continue reaching remote, isolated areas.

The death toll from floods and landslides in Sri Lanka rose to 56 on Friday.

On Thursday, more than 25 people were killed in landslides in the central mountainous, tea-growing districts of Badulla and Nuwara Eliya, located about 300 km (186 miles) east of the capital, Colombo. Additional fatalities were reported in other regions affected by landslides.

According to the government’s Disaster Management Centre, 21 people remain missing and 14 have been injured in the Badulla and Nuwara Eliya areas. Nationwide, a total of 23 people are still unaccounted for.

Sri Lanka’s Disaster Management Centre (DMC) has evacuated 43,991 people from 12,313 families to schools and other public shelters, local media reported Friday morning.

Footage broadcast by the media showed military helicopters rescuing three people stranded on the rooftop of their home on Thursday in Hanwella, a town in Colombo District. The navy and police have also been assisting evacuations by boat.

In response to the disaster, the government ordered the closure of all government offices and schools on Friday. Train services have been suspended, and the Colombo Stock Exchange announced an early close for the trading day.

Authorities have shut several roads across the country after landslides deposited rocks, mud, and fallen trees onto roads and railways, with some routes submerged by floodwaters.

Last year, Sri Lanka elected leftist Anura Kumara Dissanayake as president, who had pledged to end the austerity measures imposed by his predecessor, Ranil Wickremesinghe, under a bailout loan package from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), reported Al Jazeera.

Although Dissanayake was initially opposed to the IMF deal, the agreement remains in place as he works to stabilize the country’s economy.

This year, Sri Lanka has seen some early signs of economic recovery, particularly in the tourism sector. However, analysts warn that the rebound remains fragile and heavily dependent on effective debt management.

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