“We communicated” Meteorologists association responds to allegations
The Sri Lanka Association of Meteorologists stated that Department of Meteorology officials acted in accordance with established Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in issuing timely alerts and warnings ahead of Cyclone Ditwah.
According to the association, these communications enabled naval and fishing communities to take necessary precautions, saving lives in the process.
The statement comes after mounting public criticism suggesting that the warnings from the Met Department about the cyclone were inadequate.
Cyclone “Ditwah” stands out due to several notable factors, the Association said. “According to observational data, the cyclone intensified from a low-pressure area to a storm system in less than 12 hours—one of the key concerns. Meteorologists have confirmed that due to global warming, rapid intensification of cyclonic systems has become increasingly common in various oceanic regions due to changing atmospheric dynamics,” the statement said.
The association also emphasized the need to upgrade the current warning system to issue more accurate alerts during extreme and uncertain whether events. It noted that existing limitations within the Department’s alert system are currently under review.
The atmospheric disturbances that led to the formation of Cyclone “Ditwah” were first identified by meteorologists on November 23, the statement said.
“On the same day, this information was promptly communicated to fishing and naval communities, along with a public notice indicating the potential formation of a low-pressure area near Sri Lanka around November 25.
By November 24, as the system was still located far from the island in the central parts of the Bay of Bengal, updated marine warnings were issued, including an “Amber” alert based on new data.”
“Additionally, on November 24, meteorologists also informed the public and stakeholders of possible upcoming weather developments, highlighting the evolving conditions”
The Association also rejected claims that the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) issued any early prediction regarding the initial development of Cyclone Ditwah as early as November 13.
This claim is entirely false, the meteorologists said, highlighting that there is currently no meteorological method available, either locally or globally, that allows for precise cyclone predictions several weeks in advance.
The IMD, which runs the Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre (RSMC), first officially acknowledged the system’s initial development in a bulletin issued at 2:30 p.m. on November 23, 2025.
Based on further analysis of national and global data, the Department of Meteorology issued its official bulletin at 4:00 p.m. the same day.
The cyclone’s formation was officially declared by the RSMC on November 27, 2025, at 2:30 p.m., followed by the Department of Meteorology’s official update at 5:00 p.m., the statement detailed.
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