Sri Lanka’s disaster situation has reached critical levels, with more than 1.8 million people affected due to prolonged adverse weather conditions between November 16 and December 4, according to the Situation Summary Report issued yesterday evening by the Disaster Management Centre (DMC).
The report notes that 509,680 families have been impacted, while 481 deaths have been officially recorded. Another 345 individuals remain unaccounted for.
The highest number of affected families are reported from Puttalam (92,665), Gampaha (78,620), Colombo (79,794), Badulla (12,274) and Ratnapura (17,537). Overall, 1,967 houses have suffered total destruction while 50,173 homes have been partially damaged.
As at 6.00 p.m. yesterday, 48,559 families—totalling 171,492 people—remained in 1,236 designated safe centres across the country. Badulla, Puttalam, Gampaha, Nuwara Eliya and Kegalle districts continue to house the largest displaced populations.
DMC officials said continuous rainfall led to flooding, earth slips, water contamination, infrastructure disruption, and road inaccessibility in multiple districts. Several road segments in Anuradhapura, Badulla, Ampara and Gampaha were reported partially submerged as of yesterday evening.
Meanwhile, water levels of major reservoirs have risen sharply, prompting controlled spill releases at a number of locations. Among them are Victoria, Randenigala, Polgolla, Rajangana, Bowatenna, and Udawalawe reservoirs.
The National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) yesterday issued landslide warnings for parts of Badulla, Kandy, Ratnapura, Kegalle, Nuwara Eliya and Matale, urging residents to remain alert.
DMC Deputy Director J.G. Jayaratne said priority was being placed on relocation support, emergency health access, and restoration of damaged utilities. He added that emergency teams have already been deployed to high-risk areas, with food, water supply and temporary shelter facilities being supplemented.
He urged local authorities to expedite clearing of drainage networks to avoid secondary flooding from expected rainfall in the coming days.
The DMC noted that assessments on agricultural losses, infrastructure damage and livelihood impacts are ongoing. Further updates are expected today following meetings with provincial disaster coordinators.
By Ifham Nizam