At least 56 people have been killed and 21 remain missing after floods and landslides caused by torrential rain swept through Sri Lanka, the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said on Thursday.
The worst-hit area was the tea-growing district of Badulla, where 21 people were killed overnight when a landslide buried several homes. Videos shared online show entire houses being washed away by powerful torrents as floodwaters surged through towns and villages.
Authorities have deployed 20,500 army troops to assist with rescue operations, while nearly 44,000 people have been affected by the severe weather. The DMC has issued evacuation orders for low-lying communities, warning that river levels continue to rise.
A red-level flood alert has been issued for the Kelani River valley, which runs through Colombo, with officials warning residents to move to higher ground.
The country is now bracing for further disruption as Cyclone Ditwah moves along its eastern coast. The storm, which began as a deep depression, has intensified into a tropical cyclone and is expected to make landfall in India within the coming days.
Sri Lanka’s Meteorological Department warned that over 200mm of rain could fall in central and northern areas on Friday, raising fears of further landslides and flash floods.
Key transport links have been severely affected, with several major highways closed and train services suspended nationwide except for essential routes. The Railway Department said all non-essential trains were cancelled from 06:00 local time on Friday.
The floods have also disrupted Advanced Level examinations (A-levels), which were postponed as school buildings and roads were inundated.
The Irrigation Department said riverbanks across multiple districts were at breaking point, while emergency shelters have been set up in affected provinces.
This is one of Sri Lanka’s worst weather disasters in years, coming during the country’s monsoon season but on an unusually extreme scale.
The worst flooding this century occurred in June 2003, when 254 people were killed and hundreds of thousands displaced.
Officials warn that the full extent of this week’s destruction will only become clear once the rains subside and access is restored to remote areas.