Rs. 5 billion allocated for Cyclone Ditwah relief

14-Feb-2026

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The Defence Ministry announced that Rs. 4.5 billion has been distributed to 25 districts to provide relief for those affected by Cyclone Ditwah.

Additional Secretary (Disaster Management) K.D. Dharmatilake revealed the details at a press conference at the Government Information Department in Colombo on 12 February.

A total of 2,487,114 people from 703,922 families across 22 districts were affected. There were 676 deaths and 155 people remain missing. 6,198 houses were fully destroyed and 112,638 partially damaged. 

Currently, 4,175 people from 1,373 families remain in 50 shelters in Badulla, Nuwara Eliya and Kegalle.

Rs. 41.6 billion has been allocated for rebuilding damaged homes and Rs. 2.1 billion for resettlement. Weekly progress reports are submitted to the Presidential Secretariat.

So far, 98.2% of the Rs. 25,000 allowance and 81.5% of the Rs. 50,000 allowance have been distributed. Assistance has also been provided for livelihood losses, rental housing and schoolchildren, with compensation ongoing.