PoliticsEconomyGeneralHOTTuesday, April 21, 2026

Government Accelerates Ditwa Storm Relief Efforts, Compensation Distributed in Affected Areas

TLDR

President Dissanayake targets May end for Rs. 500k partial damage payout.
Rs. 5M for fully damaged homes; 1,000 displaced get interim shelters by May.
Ditwah damaged 6,088 fully, 115,179 partially homes; Cabinet approves shelters.

The Sri Lankan government is intensifying its efforts to provide relief to those affected by the recent Ditwa storm. Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya has directed authorities to accelerate compensation and reconstruction efforts at the district level, emphasizing provincial monitoring of progress. As part of these initiatives, 781 homeowners in the Kolonnawa electoral division received compensation on April 10, with Deputy Minister Eranga Gunasekara overseeing the distribution of LKR 500,000 for partially damaged houses, disbursed in two stages. Separately, on April 12, financial assistance was provided to residents in the Poojapitiya Divisional Secretariat area to rebuild their homes and businesses, led by Deputy Minister Dr. Prasanna Gunasekara. These programs underscore the government's commitment to minimizing the impact of the natural disaster and restoring normalcy for affected communities.

6 Updates

Update #7\u00b7 May 5 · 1:34 PM

In the Doluwa Divisional Secretariat Division, 1596 families have been identified as affected by Cyclone Ditwah, with 771 houses reported as fully damaged. The first compensation payment of LKR 5,000,000 for a fully damaged house was handed over to a resident in this area. Assistance for partially damaged homes is also being expedited.

Separately, at an event in the Alahära Divisional Secretariat Office, 14 individuals received compensation for damages caused by the Ditwah cyclone. A total of Rs. 36,422,900 was distributed at this event for various disaster damages.

Update #6\u00b7 Apr 28 · 9:06 AM

The interim housing project for families displaced by Cyclone Ditwah has received Cabinet approval. This project aims to provide temporary shelters for those living in safe centers, tents, and relatives' homes. Official figures now report 6,088 fully damaged houses and 115,179 partially damaged houses due to the cyclone. As of April 22, 494 families were residing in 20 safe centers across four districts.

Update #5\u00b7 Apr 28 · 6:19 AM

The government is set to launch a program in the first week of May to provide interim shelters for approximately 1,000 persons displaced by Cyclone Ditwah. This initiative, overseen by Deputy Minister of Defence Major General Aruna Jayasekara, focuses on the worst-affected districts of Kegalle, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, and Badulla. The Sri Lanka Army's engineering technology and labor will be utilized to construct these temporary, safe, and habitable shelters.

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