On November 28, Cyclone Ditwah made landfall in Sri Lanka, unleashing the worst flooding the country has seen in more than 20 years. The scale of the devastation is heartbreaking, with more than 600 lives lost and over 1,200 landslides triggered across the island.
While CERI’s Eastern Province office was spared the worst of the damage, our surrounding communities were not as fortunate. Nationwide, the storm has caused an estimated $7 billion in recovery costs. This is a staggering burden for a small island nation carrying deep and ongoing trauma.
The True Cost of Resilience
To understand the crisis Sri Lanka faces today, we must understand its history. For decades, its people have endured civil war, terrorist attacks, economic collapse, political instability, the COVID-19 pandemic—and now, a growing environmental crisis. This layering of trauma cannot be healed with short-term solutions. It requires steady presence and a long-term commitment to rebuilding and strengthening communities.
Our work in Sri Lanka began after the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami. Over the past 20 years, our commitment to empowering children and strengthening families has only deepened.
That is why CERI is here, and why we remain.
Immediate Action, Lasting Support
In the days following Cyclone Ditwah, CERI’s Sri Lanka team responded quickly, working in close coordination with government partners to meet urgent needs. Together, we were able to provide:
146 food relief packages to families displaced or suddenly cut off from essential resources
Psychosocial support for 856 children, helping them process the shock, fear, and loss caused by the floods
Yet the needs continue to grow.
Across the country, destroyed roads and bridges have disrupted food supply chains. With croplands submerged, concerns about rising food insecurity are increasing.
Within CERI-supported communities, the impact is deeply personal. Five families have suffered severe damage to their homes, and more than 100 families have lost their primary source of income. For them, this cyclone has been financially devastating.
Our Commitment to Rebuilding
Emergency relief saves lives—but it is only the beginning.
CERI remains in Sri Lanka because recovery does not end when floodwaters recede. The road ahead requires long-term rebuilding: restoring infrastructure, reviving livelihoods, and rebuilding hope.
As Sri Lanka begins the long road of recovery from Cyclone Ditwah, we are committed to transforming immediate aid into lasting change. Healing takes time, and hope grows through steadfast partnership.
