Sri Lankan authorities have announced a staggering $7 billion reconstruction estimate following the devastating impact of Cyclone Ditwah, which has claimed 465 lives and left 366 individuals missing amid catastrophic mudslides and flooding. Commissioner-General of Essential Services Prabath Chandrakeerthi, overseeing recovery operations, revealed the preliminary assessment while detailing immediate relief measures including $81 payments for home cleaning and $8,100 compensation for families who lost residences.
The disaster has affected over 1.5 million people nationwide, with approximately 200,000 currently housed in government-operated shelters. While floodwaters in Colombo have begun receding, numerous areas within the central highlands remain completely inaccessible due to damaged infrastructure, hampering rescue and assessment efforts.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake emphasized the critical need for international assistance, noting the particularly cruel timing as Sri Lanka continues its fragile recovery from the 2022 economic crisis that resulted in sovereign default on $46 billion of external debt. Despite implementing IMF-mandated austerity measures following a $2.9 billion bailout, the nation now faces compounded challenges.
In a contrasting development highlighting resilience efforts, Sri Lanka welcomed a luxury cruise ship to Colombo Port this week. The tourism board characterized the arrival as a strategic message reaffirming the country’s operational status and commitment to welcoming international visitors despite ongoing recovery operations.