Cyclone Ditwah has unleashed some of the worst flooding Sri Lanka has seen in decades, inundating the capital, cutting off hill country roads and leaving tourists stranded as flights are cancelled or diverted . The storm – officially Cyclonic Storm Ditwah – crossed the island this week after forming over the southwest Bay of Bengal near Sri Lanka’s east coast, dumping more than 300mm of rain in some districts in just 24 hours. Landslides and flash floods have followed in its wake.
As of Wednesday, 3 December, officials say at least 465 people have died, 366 are still missing, and around 1.56 million people across all 25 districts have been affected by flooding and landslides, making this one of the country’s worst natural disasters since records began. Sri Lanka’s president has described it as “the largest and most challenging natural disaster in our history”, saying the damage exceeds that of the 2004 tsunami. A state of emergency is in force, schools and many government offices remain closed, and more than 200,000 people are sheltering in temporary centres.
International assistance is ramping up too. India has launched Operation Sagar Bandhu, sending navy ships, aircraft, medical teams and National Disaster Response Force personnel with tonnes of relief supplies, while Indian authorities have also organised special flights to evacuate stranded citizens. UN agencies and NGOs are warning of a growing humanitarian crisis, with UNICEF estimating that more than 275,000 children have been directly affected by the floods and landslides.
At the same time, the country is anxious not to lose its hard-won tourism rebound. Authorities have brought in free visa extensions for stranded tourists and asked airlines serving the island to waive change and cancellation fees, part of an emergency package designed to reassure visitors and keep the recovery on track. Here’s what travellers need to know about Cyclone Ditwah in Sri Lanka — and how it might affect upcoming trips.
The information in this story is current as of 10am UAE time on Wednesday, 3 December 2025. Check back for the latest updates.
Cyclone Ditwah has dumped more than 300mm of rain in some Sri Lankan districts in just 24 hours
Ditwah is a tropical cyclone in the North Indian Ocean basin, classified by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) as a Cyclonic Storm, roughly equivalent to a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir–Simpson scale. The system developed from a low-pressure area over the southwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining waters off Sri Lanka’s east coast on 26 November. Within 24 hours it intensified into a depression and then into a named storm, as warm sea surface temperatures and favourable wind patterns helped it form.
At one point, the storm centre lay roughly 170km east of Hambantota and about 210km south to southeast of Batticaloa on Sri Lanka’s east coast, placing much of the island inside its broad rain bands. Unlike some cyclones that cause damage through extreme winds, Ditwah’s main impact has been from extraordinary rainfall. Several northern and eastern districts, including Vavuniya and Mullaitivu, recorded more than 300mm in a single day, while many others exceeded 200mm. That deluge rapidly overwhelmed rivers, reservoirs and drainage systems.
Cyclone Ditwah has rapidly overwhelmed rivers, reservoirs and drainage systems
For Sri Lanka, the worst of the direct cyclonic conditions have now passed. After crossing the island and emerging back over the Bay of Bengal, Ditwah weakened as it moved north to northwest parallel to India’s east coast.
As of Wednesday, 3 December, Indian meteorological bulletins describe the remnants of Ditwah as a weakening depression near the north Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coast, expected to downgrade further within about 24 hours. It is still bringing heavy rain, rough seas and school closures to parts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, but Sri Lanka is no longer facing cyclone-force winds — instead, the main risks now come from floodwaters moving downstream and unstable, rain-soaked slopes in the hill country that will remain hazardous for days.
Much of Sri Lanka has been affected by Cyclone Ditwah
Ditwah has affected almost the entire island, but some areas – including several of Sri Lanka’s most popular tourist regions – have been hit far harder than others.
The mountainous tea-growing interior has borne the brunt of landslides and slope failures. Government and media reports highlight Badulla, Nuwara Eliya and Kandy as among the worst-affected districts, with dozens of fatalities and entire villages cut off by mud and rockfalls.
Key tourist routes – including the Colombo–Kandy corridor, the Kandy–Nuwara Eliya road and sections of the scenic rail line towards Ella and Badulla – have seen repeated closures due to landslides and track damage.
Colombo and neighbouring Gampaha district have experienced some of the most serious urban flooding as swollen rivers and reservoir spillover move downstream. Streets and ground floors in parts of the capital and its suburbs are under water, and authorities describe flooding around Malwana and other low-lying communities as the worst in a decade.
Eastern and northern districts were among the first to be hit as Ditwah formed offshore and crossed the island. Vavuniya and Mullaitivu recorded over 300mm of rain, while Batticaloa and Polonnaruwa also reported severe flooding, with some communities isolated and a major dam breach at Mavil Aru prompting mass evacuations downstream.
The beach belt between Bentota and Matara has seen very heavy rain, local flooding and rough seas, but far fewer catastrophic landslides than the interior. Traveller and local reports suggest that while some roads have been briefly closed, much of the south coast remains accessible and many resorts are open, albeit with grey skies and intermittent power cuts.
Sri Lanka's capital Colombo and neighbouring Gampaha district have experienced some of the most serious urban flooding
Right now, authorities and foreign governments are advising extreme caution. The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) warns that Sri Lanka is experiencing “severe weather” with flooding and landslides causing nationwide travel disruption, and urges travellers to check local advice and avoid affected areas.
As yet, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office has not advised against all but essential travel to Sri Lanka, but it does warn of “travel disruption caused by Cyclone Ditwah” and urges visitors to check with airlines and tour operators before travelling. That means standard package-holiday and insurance cancellation rights are unlikely to be triggered unless official advice changes, so it’s crucial to speak to your provider if you’re considering postponing.
For travellers already in Sri Lanka, it is generally safe to remain in accommodation in less-affected areas such as much of the south coast, provided you follow local advice, avoid unnecessary journeys and stay away from rivers, reservoirs and landslide-prone hillsides.
If your trip is imminent and focused on Kandy, Ella or the tea country, postponement or re-routing is likely to be the most sensible option. If your holiday is weeks or months away, there is no need to cancel immediately, but you should watch updates from the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), your airline and your government’s travel advisories.
Sri Lanka Tourism has also opened a 24-hour helpline for visitors, directing stranded travellers to shelters, transport and embassy contacts while conditions remain volatile — dial 1912 within the country.
Authorities and foreign governments are advising extreme caution when visiting Sri Lanka
Cyclone Ditwah has caused widespread disruption to flights into and out of Sri Lanka, as well as to regional routes in South India.
SriLankan Airlines – the national carrier – has cancelled or delayed dozens of services over several days, including flights linking Colombo with Dubai, Doha, Singapore, Bangkok, Mumbai, Chennai, Madurai, Trichy, Dhaka, Malé and Gan. The airline has advised passengers to check flight status before travelling to the airport and is allowing fee-free date changes for those affected.
At the height of the storm, at least 15 inbound flights – including services from Dubai, Doha, Abu Dhabi, Kuala Lumpur and Mumbai – were diverted from Colombo to airports in southern India such as Thiruvananthapuram. Hundreds of Indian passengers were stranded in Colombo before being evacuated on special flights organised by Indian authorities.
The knock-on effects stretch beyond Sri Lanka. Chennai and several cities in Tamil Nadu are under red alert, with schools closed and waterlogging across the city, and Indian carriers including IndiGo and Air India are warning of delays and cancellations on routes through Chennai, Trichy and other southern hubs as Ditwah’s remnants continue to dump rain.
Flooding and landslides have caused nationwide travel disruption, and travellers are urged to check local advice and avoid affected areas
Sri Lanka’s main international gateway Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Colombo has remained technically open, but operations have been badly compromised by the weather. Airport authorities report a mix of cancellations, diversions and long delays, with 15 inbound flights diverted in one 24-hour period alone.
The biggest challenge has been access. Flooding along the Colombo–Katunayake Expressway and on secondary roads has repeatedly made it hard for staff and passengers to reach the terminal, prompting calls for travellers to allow significantly more time – or in some cases to reroute via India instead. Authorities say some key approaches, including the Athurugiriya interchange and roads around Kaduwela, have now reopened as waters recede, but localised closures and diversions are still being reported.
Regional airports in the north and east (such as Jaffna ) and in the interior have also seen weather-related disruption, including temporary closures and cancellations of domestic hops.
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