Sri Lanka faces landslide warnings as Cyclone death toll reaches 618

09:20

By: Sahili Aya

Sri Lanka faces landslide warnings as Cyclone death toll reaches 618

Sri Lankan authorities have issued fresh landslide warnings as heavy rains continue to lash regions already devastated by Cyclone Ditwah. The disaster, the worst to hit the island this century, has claimed at least 618 lives, with 209 people still missing.

Over two million people—nearly 10% of the population—have been affected by last week’s floods and landslides. The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) reported that monsoon storms are further destabilizing hillsides, particularly in the central mountainous region and the north-western midlands.

Helicopters and planes are being deployed to deliver aid to communities cut off by landslides, and the Sri Lanka Air Force received a planeload of relief supplies from Myanmar on Sunday.

The government has reported that 464 of the fatalities occurred in the central tea-growing region. More than 75,000 homes were damaged, including nearly 5,000 that were completely destroyed. As floodwaters recede, the number of people in state-run refugee camps has decreased from a peak of 225,000 to 100,000.

A compensation package has been announced to help survivors rebuild homes and restore businesses. Each victim or permanently disabled person is entitled to one million rupees, and families can receive up to ten million rupees ($33,000) to buy land in safer locations and construct new homes. The total cost of the package has not been disclosed, raising concerns about the country’s capacity to finance recovery amid ongoing economic challenges.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is reviewing Sri Lanka’s request for an additional $200 million in aid, alongside a $347 million tranche from a four-year, $2.9 billion bailout agreement made in 2023. The central bank has also instructed commercial lenders to reschedule loans to ease financial pressure on affected households.