Sri Lanka is facing a significant disaster due to the impact of Cyclone Ditwah. The official releases of information from the Disaster Management Centre records 56 deaths and 21 missing with 14 injured and a total of over 43,000 persons affected.
A special holiday has been declared for tomorrow (28) for all government employees, except those engaged in essential services, due to the prevailing adverse weather conditions. This has been notified in a circular issued to the relevant heads of departments and institutions by the Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government.
It states that taking into consideration the issues faced in maintaining normal office affairs amidst the prevailing disaster situation, a special holiday has been declared on Friday (28) for government offices. However, it states that this special holiday should not be an impediment to call relevant officials to duty for essential services of the government and disaster relief services.
A Red Level Flood Warning has been issued for the low-lying areas of the Kelani River valley within the next 48 hours due to heavy rainfall and increased water release from upper catchment reservoirs, the Irrigation Department said.
A total of 43,991 individuals from 12,313 families have been affected by the extreme weather conditions caused by Cyclonic Storm Ditwah, the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said.
According to the latest update, 56 people have died, 14 have been injured, and 21 remain missing due to incidents related to the adverse weather.
The DMC also reported four houses fully destroyed and 666 partially damaged across affected districts.
Areas at risk include Eheliyagoda, Norwood, Yatiyantota, Galigamuwa, Ruwanwella, Bulathkohupitiya, Dehiowita, Seethawaka, Dompe, Padukka, Homagama, Kaduwela, Biyagama, Kolonnawa, Kelaniya, Wattala and Colombo.