Why Sri Lanka Faced the Devastating Impact of Cyclone Ditwa

Thiloththama Jayasinghe, JadeTimes Editor

Jadetimes news reporter covering Asia

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Image Source: Reuters

A cyclonic storm, Ditwa, which swept across the island recently, brought floods, landslides, strong winds, and destruction on a large scale to Sri Lanka one of the worst such experiences in recent years. Although cyclones are nothing new in the Bay of Bengal, Ditwa's effects were unusually devastating. Some of the important factors leading to this disaster were environmental, geographical, and climate related.

1. Unstable Weather Patterns in the Bay of Bengal

The Bay of Bengal is considered one of the most active cyclone-forming regions of the world. These warm sea surface temperatures rise steadily because of climate change and provide a conducive environment for disturbances to rapidly intensify.

It is from such a depression that Cyclone Ditwa originated, developing at a rate much faster than had been anticipated. As such, this rapid intensification left little time for the emergency systems to put in place measures of preparation, leading to higher damage than had been anticipated.

2. Rising Ocean Temperatures Intensified the Storm

This warming has been particularly pronounced in the Indian Ocean, including waters just off Sri Lanka. Warmer water fuels cyclones, making them stronger, wetter, and longer-lasting.

Ditwa drew immense moisture from these warm waters, translating into unprecedented torrential rain that overflowed rivers, reservoirs, and drainage systems across several districts.

3. Heavy Rainfall and Overflowing Rivers

Pounding rain relentlessly whipped the central, western, and north-western areas of the island as Ditwa moved closer to Sri Lanka. The resulting excessive rains caused major overflows at many rivers that include Maha Oya, Kelani, Gin, and Kalu.

This caused massive flooding, family dislocation, and destruction of homes and infrastructure. The worst-hit areas were low-lying ones, especially river basins.

4. Landslides in Vulnerable Regions

Continuous rains soaked the earth in the hilly areas, making places like Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Badulla, and Ratnapura very prone to landslides.

Added to this, the fragile slopes of Sri Lanka were at even greater risk due to unplanned construction and deforestation in some areas. This led to communities being cut off and hindered rescue efforts.

5. Climate Change & Extreme Weather

Similarly, scientists have long warned that due to climate change, South Asia is in for more intense and unpredictable weather. In essence, Cyclone Ditwa epitomized the trend: rapid formation, unusual movement, and higher rainfall intensity.

Being a small island country, Sri Lanka is particularly exposed to these kinds of climate shocks. As the monsoon patterns continue to shift and extreme events increase, Ditwa-like disasters are increasingly difficult to forecast or manage.

6. Gaps in Preparedness and Infrastructure

Although the disaster-management authorities in Sri Lanka issued warnings, Ditwa surpassed expectations regarding its severity.

Key contributory challenges that exacerbated the impact include:

Inadequate drainage and flood-control systems

Poorly maintained canal networks

Limited early-evacuation response in rural areas High population concentration in flood-prone areas These structural and administrative gaps point to an urgent need for stronger climate-resilient policies.

7. A Call for Stronger Climate Resilience Cyclone Ditwa serves as more than a natural disaster; it is a powerful reminder that Sri Lanka must strengthen its climate preparedness: investing in modern flood-mitigation systems, responsible land use, efficient early-warning technologies, and community-level disaster training. As climate change presses on, altering the patterning of weather, Sri Lanka must race to adapt to protect lives, livelihoods, and the environment.