Sri Lanka Issues New Landslide Warnings as Cyclone Death Toll Rises to 607
Heavy rains have prompted fresh landslide warnings in Sri Lanka’s central hills, the regions hardest hit by last week’s Cyclone Ditwah, as the death toll surged to 607.
The National Building Research Organisation (NBRO), which monitors the stability of mountain slopes, warned that continued rainfall could further saturate the hills, increasing the risk of deadly landslides. “Since rainfall in the past 24 hours has exceeded 150 millimetres, residents should evacuate to safe locations if rains persist,” the NBRO said.
The new deluge coincides with the onset of the monsoon season, although some earlier flooding that began last week has started to recede.
The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) reported that the number of missing persons has decreased from 341 to 214, while the number of people affected has risen to just over two million. Meanwhile, the population in state-run refugee camps dropped from a peak of 225,000 to 150,000 as floodwaters around the capital, Colombo, receded.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake described the catastrophe as the most severe natural disaster in Sri Lanka’s history.
Fresh IMF Negotiations
Addressing parliament on Friday, Dissanayake announced that he had requested the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to postpone the release of the sixth instalment of a $2.9 billion bailout loan to negotiate a larger disbursement. “The IMF board was set to release $347 million on December 15, but we have asked for a delay to secure a bigger instalment,” he said, noting that the nation’s economic situation has worsened following the disaster.
Evacuations and Recovery Efforts
New landslide alerts now cover areas previously considered low-risk. Residents in the central hills have been warned not to return to their homes immediately, even if unaffected by landslides.
In Gampola, residents are working to clear mud and repair water damage. Muslim cleric Faleeldeen Qadiri told AFP that volunteers from surrounding areas were assisting. “We have calculated that it takes 10 men a whole day to clean one house. No one can do this without help,” said volunteer Rinas.
The military has deployed thousands of troops to support cleanup and relief operations. Commissioner-General of Essential Services, Prabath Chandrakeerthi, estimated reconstruction costs between $6 billion and $7 billion.
The government announced measures to provide compensation for victims to rebuild homes and livelihoods.
While authorities continue to seek donations to repair roads, bridges, homes, and industries, the tourism sector is reopening. Nearly 300 stranded tourists have been rescued by helicopter. Deputy Tourism Minister Ruwan Ranasinghe stressed: “We need tourism revenues to help rebuild.”
The new report highlights the dual challenges facing Sri Lanka: immediate disaster recovery and long-term economic stabilization, with millions still at risk from continuing rains and unstable terrain.
