After the greatest flooding in ten years, almost 78,000 people were relocated to almost 800 relief centers.
According to officials on Saturday, landslides and flooding brought on by Cyclone Ditwah have killed at least 153 people in Sri Lanka, leaving 191 others unaccounted for and affecting over 500,000 people statewide.
According to the Disaster Management Center, over 78,000 individuals have been relocated to almost 800 relief centers, the majority of which are located in schools.
Food is being distributed, roads are being cleared, and trapped families are being transported to safety by thousands of police, naval, and army soldiers.
The worst flooding in ten years
Mallika Kumari, whose house was swiftly flooded to the top on Friday, is among many who have sought safety in rescue centers. She and her husband spent the night on the side of the road after packing their three kids into a rented truck.
On November 29, 2025, after a lot of rain, people congregate in a flood-affected area in Malwana, Sri Lanka. Image: Reuters
In Malwana, 20 kilometers (12 miles) from Colombo, Kumari and her 554 neighbors live next to the Kelani River and are dealing with the worst flooding in ten years.
Kumari, one of the stranded families being transported by rescue boats, wanted to get her kids’ schoolbooks and clothes from her house.
“We didn’t anticipate the river overflowing so rapidly, but I first learned about the flood alert on TV. Kumari told Reuters, “We just hurried out of the house without anything.”
“We still haven’t eaten breakfast. My two sons have contracted the flu. I need to get them some medicine. To gather their clothing, I’ve brought a couple trash bags.”
Kumari’s cat was scooped up by a navy boat and transported to dry land after she abandoned it in the rush.
Homes without electricity and submerged
According to authorities, the majority of residences in Malwana and other low-lying districts close to Colombo are under water and without electricity as a result of the flooding.
Fears of more flooding in already flooded areas have been raised by meteorological experts’ projection of continuous rains over the weekend.
On November 29, 2025, after severe rainfall in Malwana, Sri Lanka, people ride in a boat through a flooded area. Image: Reuters
In order to protect their possessions, some residents chose to stay on the upper floors of partially submerged homes.
Pharmacies, supermarkets, and fabric stores are among the local businesses that are flooded, raising worries about long-term rehabilitation and financial losses.
In an effort to boost capacity by Sunday, volunteers at the Dalugala Thakiya Mosque prepared rice packets with chicken and dhal stew for flood victims.
One of the meal organizers, Risham Ahmed, stated, “We are getting more requests for food because people who work daily jobs cannot find work and are running low on savings.”
“They are worried about how to piece their lives back together.”