Other Districts and Areas of Destruction from Cyclone Ditwah (Excluding Badulla)
Cyclone Ditwah, which made landfall on Sri Lanka’s eastern coast on November 28, 2025, has devastated 20 out of 25 districts, causing over 153 deaths, 191 missing, and displacing 108,000+ people nationwide. While Badulla suffered major landslides in tea estates (35 deaths), other districts faced flooding, infrastructure collapse, and isolation. Below is a breakdown of key affected districts (beyond Badulla), based on Disaster Management Centre (DMC) reports and eyewitness accounts as of November 30, 2025. Impacts are most severe in central (hilly landslides) and western (urban/suburban flooding) regions, with eastern coastal areas hit by initial storm surge.
Western Province (Severe Urban Flooding)
- Colombo District: Capital outskirts submerged; 20+ deaths from flash floods along Kelani River. Key areas: Wellampitiya (homes flooded, roads impassable), Malwana (partial submergence of 500+ houses), Biyagama, Wattala, Kaduwela, Kelaniya (vehicles wading through waist-deep water; 65,000+ power cuts). Airport disruptions diverted 15 flights.
- Gampaha District: Northern suburbs flooded; 10,000+ displaced. Areas like Ja-Ela and Ganemulla saw bridge collapses and train cancellations due to submerged tracks.
- Kalutara District: Southern coastal flooding; 5+ deaths, 2,000 homes damaged. Beruwala and Kalutara town isolated by overflowed rivers.
Central Province (Landslides in Hill Country)
- Kandy District: Worst-hit with 51 deaths; landslides buried villages. Key areas: Gangoda (20 missing after slope collapse), Hanguranketha (main access roads underwater, 30+ estates cut off).
- Matale District: 15 deaths from mudslides; rural roads blocked. Areas near Dambulla saw crop destruction and 1,000+ evacuated.
- Nuwara Eliya District: Tea estates ravaged; 25+ deaths. Horton Plains and surrounding highlands isolated, with 50 villages buried under debris.
Southern Province (Coastal Floods and Winds)
- Galle District: 8 deaths; ports disrupted. Southern beaches eroded, with Bentota and Galle Fort areas flooded.
- Matara District: 6 deaths; 500 homes damaged. Coastal villages like Weligama submerged.
- Hambantota District: Initial landfall zone; 4 deaths, wind-damaged infrastructure. Yala National Park access closed due to flooding.
Sabaragamuwa Province (Riverine Flooding)
- Ratnapura District: 12 deaths; gem-mining areas flooded. Kalawana and Eheliyagoda saw 3,000 displaced.
- Kegalle District: 7 deaths from early landslides. Mawanella region hardest hit, with 381 homes partially damaged.
North Western Province (Inland Floods)
- Kurunegala District: 10,000 affected; reservoirs overflowed. Areas like Kuliyapitiya saw road blockages.
- Puttalam District: Coastal surges; 2 deaths, fishing villages inundated.
North Central Province (Evacuations)
- Anuradhapura District: 69 bus passengers rescued from floods; 5,000 displaced. Ancient city outskirts submerged, with helicopter ops ongoing.
- Polonnaruwa District: Rice paddies ruined; 3,000 families impacted.
Eastern Province (Storm Surge and Rains)
- Trincomalee District: Landfall epicenter; 10 deaths, ports closed. Coastal areas like Uppuveli battered by 65 km/h winds.
- Batticaloa District: 8 deaths; lagoons overflowed, submerging 20 villages.
- Ampara District: 6 deaths; farmlands flooded, 10,000 evacuated.
Uva Province (Beyond Badulla)
- Monaragala District: 4 deaths; dry zone flooding rare but severe, damaging irrigation canals.
| District | Est. Deaths | Key Areas Damaged | Primary Impacts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kandy | 51 | Gangoda, Hanguranketha | Landslides, road submersion |
| Nuwara Eliya | 25+ | Tea estates, Horton Plains | Buried villages, isolation |
| Colombo | 20+ | Wellampitiya, Malwana | Urban flooding, power cuts |
| Ratnapura | 12 | Kalawana | River overflows, displacements |
| Anuradhapura | 5+ | City outskirts | Bus rescues, evacuations |
| Galle | 8 | Bentota | Coastal erosion |
Unaffected districts (5): Mannar, Vavuniya, Mullaitivu, Kilinochchi, Jaffna (northern tip minimally impacted). Relief includes Indian aid (21+ tons delivered) and army deployments (20,500 personnel). Rains easing, but recovery ongoing—monitor DMC for updates.