Sri Lanka Prioritises Infrastructure, Housing In Post-Cyclone Recovery

By Nur Atiq Maisarah Suhaimi

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 4 (NNN) -- Sri Lanka is prioritising the reconstruction of infrastructure and housing while strengthening climate resilience as part of its recovery efforts following the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah last year, which affected more than 1.4 million people. 

Sri Lankan High Commissioner to Malaysia Dharshana M Perera said the country had made progress in rebuilding critical infrastructure, including its railways and roads, while identifying environmentally sensitive areas to ensure safer habitation.

He said the reconstruction efforts were guided by the principle of “building back better” to protect communities against future disasters.

“This has been a challenging period where Sri Lanka has progressed in reconstructing the railways and the roads, and also we have taken this opportunity to zone the sensitive areas for habitation so that people continue to be safe,” he said in an exclusive interview with Bernama.

Perera said the disaster had also underscored the importance of global climate and environmental management, particularly for island nations such as Sri Lanka, which are more vulnerable to environmental catastrophes.

“We’re not the only ones who face it, but because we are a small country, and because our density is higher, the impact is greater as well,” he said.

He also expressed gratitude to Malaysia and its people for the assistance extended to Sri Lanka’s recovery efforts, both directly and through community initiatives.

“The kind of collaboration that we need, and we have received from Malaysia as well, is extremely valuable,” he said.

Cyclone Ditwah made landfall on Sri Lanka’s eastern coast on Nov 28, 2025, bringing intense rainfall, flooding and landslides that caused widespread damage across 22 districts, affecting transport networks, irrigation systems, housing and rural livelihoods.

According to Sri Lanka’s Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA), the cyclone triggered more than 1,800 landslides, while 1.1 million hectares of land were inundated and 232,752 people were displaced at the height of the emergency.

By late January 2026, the disaster had claimed 646 lives, with 173 people reported missing, while more than 169,642 people remained displaced in safety centres or with host families.

Meanwhile, Perera said Sri Lanka’s tourism sector, which was also affected by the cyclone, had recovered and was back on track following the rehabilitation of affected tourism properties.

“We had one of our top tourism years in 2025, and 2026 is going to increase a notch,” he said.

According to data released by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, the country received 1,693,679 tourist arrivals from January to September this year, generating US$2.245 billion in tourism revenue during the period.

Tourism remains one of Sri Lanka’s key sources of foreign exchange and has played an important role in supporting the country’s economic recovery. 

--NNN