16 December 2025
His Excellency the President Anura Kumara Dissanayaka,
Presidential Secretariat, Galle Face,
Colombo 1,
Sri Lanka
Your Excellency,
Key Short-Term and Long-Term Issues to Consider for Post-Cyclone Ditwah Recovery
In the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah and its widespread impacts, the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) convened a discussion on 11 December 2025 aimed at facilitating informed and constructive dialogue on recovery and response efforts. This meeting brought together representatives from a broad spectrum of civil society organisations, including those representing communities directly and disproportionately affected by the cyclone, alongside former public servants, economists, legal practitioners, and others from relevant disciplines. CPA is also appreciative of the presence of a representative from the Presidential Secretariat at this meeting.
It is imperative to acknowledge the realities posed by climate change as a global phenomenon with profound local consequences. Sri Lanka is increasingly vulnerable to a range of climate-induced natural disasters, the frequency, intensity, and nature of which are likely to differ significantly from those previously experienced. Events such as the recent cyclone underscore that the country must now contend with disasters of greater scale and complexity, requiring responses that go beyond conventional frameworks of disaster preparedness and recovery.
This evolving climate reality necessitates a fundamental shift in how Sri Lanka anticipates, prepares for, and responds to natural disasters. Recovery efforts must therefore be informed not only by immediate humanitarian needs, but also by longer-term strategies that strengthen resilience, protect vulnerable communities, and ensure that institutions are equipped to manage future crises effectively and in adherence to good governance principles and a rights-based approach. Recognising and planning for this reality is essential to safeguarding lives, livelihoods, and development gains in the years ahead.
The deliberations underscored the complexity and scale of the challenges associated with post-cyclone recovery, and a wide array of issues and concerns were raised by participants, drawing on both community-level experiences and technical expertise. In this context, CPA writes this letter to raise attention to several key issues that emerged during this discussion that can inform a comprehensive, inclusive, and sustainable recovery process and reforms. CPA also notes that this tragedy should be treated as a turning point—one that enables the adoption of forward-looking policies and practices aimed at building a stronger, more resilient Sri Lanka capable of withstanding future shocks.
Immediate measures to be taken as part of relief efforts
- Assisting communities still seeking to recover the bodies of the dead as a matter of priority. Even where resources to do so may be limited, communities must be provided with clear timelines as to when this assistance will be available. When State resources cannot be provided, communities must be provided with financial assistance to do so using private resources. This is a matter that must be considered as a matter of urgency.
- Transparent and accountable mechanisms are required to ensure equitable distribution of relief with effective oversight processes in place to monitor relief and recovery. Accountability in the distribution of aid is essential to deal with the lack of trust that people have in State mechanisms following decades of abuse of power and corruption.
- Inadequate access to information: lack of collaboration and coordination between agencies, timely disbursement of critical information, internal conflicts across departments, and duplication of efforts.
- Urgent attention is required with the need to have all information provided by the State in the two official languages (as mandated in the Constitution) and in English and to disseminate information swiftly and effectively.
- There is a lack of reliable and accessible public data and information to guide the recovery process, and immediate attention is required to address this gap.
- Addressing sectoral issues in a participatory and transparent manner with the inclusion of subject matter expertise. The following areas were identified as key in the short and medium term;
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- Physical Planning and Urban Development to address issues of landslides, flooding and other phenomena that can impact lives and livelihoods
- Transport and road infrastructure to address access and movement issues
- Education that includes providing for students affected by the disaster, and school buildings and equipment. Attention is also required to address challenges faced by A-Level students directly affected by the disaster
- Agriculture and other livelihood support to communities affected by the disaster can also inform food security and other issues
- Land and resettlement that need to be informed by durable solutions and related issues
- Social welfare schemes that provide assistance and support in an equitable and conflict-sensitive manner and prevent discrimination. This includes the need for intersectoral response, collaboration and coordination.
- Providing clear and accurate official information on the present condition of recovery efforts and dangers in Sri Lanka, to allow the tourism sector to recover from the disaster by promoting travel to unaffected or less affected areas.
Legal and Policy Issues
- Utilisation of the systems duly set up under the Disaster Management Act No. 13 of 2005. Concerns are raised as to the fact that laws exist but are not understood, updated to address evolving issues and/or implemented comprehensively.
- Concerns are raised regarding the default to Emergency Regulations when there is an existing legal framework. It is urged that the recently promulgated regulations No. 01/2025 be rescinded/amended, to keep in place only regulations that bear a direct nexus to the disaster at hand and for a specific time duration linked to the disaster response. CPA’s comments on this issue are annexed for your attention.
- If it is necessary to utilise Emergency Regulations, then draft new regulations which are essential in the current situation. This may involve provision for issues such as delays, which may be caused by damage to courts, and the destruction of documents. The rationale for the emergency must be communicated in all three languages.
- Review the applicability of the 2023-2030 Disaster Management Plan and ensure that necessary systems, procedures and mechanisms are put in place. Conduct an analysis of the long-term climate vulnerabilities threatening Sri Lanka in the context of climate change, and address these threats in the plan.
- Rehabilitation – developing a rehabilitation plan with community consultation and input, in order to minimise inconvenience, loss of livelihood or loss of community to rehabilitated persons. Human factors such as social ties and language barriers must be taken into consideration when developing such a plan.
Governance and Structural Issues
- Overburdening of the Ministry of Defence with functions relating to disaster prevention and disaster management, thus resulting in inadequate attention being paid to the subject. The subject of emergencies should be allocated to a Ministry which can allocate specialised resources and attention to disaster management.
- The proper implementation of disaster management mechanisms. For instance, before August 2025, the Disaster Management Council had not convened since 2015. Disaster management mechanisms must always be operative, and not merely function as ad hoc bodies that are convened following a crisis.
- Conducting a comprehensive audit on the gaps and shortcomings in the systems and mechanisms for disaster management in Sri Lanka, with an aim to build resilient systems which can stand the test of time.
- Lack of preparedness at the administrative level among the public service/officers to immediately respond to the crisis, e.g., warning systems, communication in all three languages, drills, early search and rescue efforts to mitigate the scale of deaths and damage. Investigations must be conducted into what went wrong, not only for accountability, but also for improving systems to prevent further failures in the future.
- Steps to preserve/digitise perishable data and steps to maintain data in digital formats to prevent further destruction. Eg: court records, land registries, archives, land deeds, identification documents.
- Expedited and sensitive mechanisms must be put in place for the issuing of death certificates. The process must accommodate cases where bodies are recovered as well as those where individuals are missing/presumed dead, to allow affected families timely access to legal rights, compensation and inheritance claims.
- Changes are required to address the lack of functionality of existing institutions/committees. Existing institutions must be strengthened and reformed.
- Decentralisation/devolution of disaster response mechanisms, so that these mechanisms can deliver services more efficiently and in a timely manner.
Public Finance
- Cash transfers must be made available to those impacted as a first step for ensuring immediate relief and that all communities affected are reached. At present, reports from the ground indicate that some communities/areas are yet to receive immediate relief, with concerns growing of the politicisation of the process.
- Oversight and reporting mechanisms on the disbursement of allocations must be in place ensuring transparency and accountability of government actors including of Grama Sevakas, at the ground level.
- While estimates for reconstruction continue to remain unclear at present, accessible and accurate information and data on financial needs must be made available to the public to aid the recovery process. This transparency must be paired with clear systems, due process safeguards and effective oversight mechanisms to ensure that any public, private, or international support and financial initiatives are accountable, equitable, and channelled effectively towards recovery and reconstruction efforts.
- In making supplementary budgetary decisions for the reallocation of public finances and resources, sectors including national transport, education, social welfare, agriculture, tourism and export which have been significantly impacted must be prioritized.
- Introduce safeguards to prevent assistance being used for purposes that are not linked to the disaster and have the potential to create/exacerbate tensions or be used for political gain.
- A notable positive step is the immediate and ongoing consultations and engagement with the IMF to review/make adjustments, with the goal of returning Sri Lanka to a path that isn’t debt-borne. Such discussions must be continued in a constructive manner.
CPA recommends that the following should serve as guiding principles in addressing the above short and long-term issues:
Short term;
- Take into account the disproportionate impact of the disaster on already marginalized communities, including aspects of gender, disability, language, systemic discrimination eg: Malaiyaha Tamil community, freetrade zone workers, LGBTQI community, and ensure disaster-response address this disproportionate impact.
- Implement a durable solutions framework for return and resettlement.
Long term;
- Take into account the disproportionate impact of the disaster on already marginalized communities, and ensure disaster-response related policy and legal reforms address this disproportionate impact.
- Focus on improving governance issues on relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction.
- Factor in broader climate and environmental issues, when determining policies including policies on pollution, waste management, sanitation, urban planning.
- Systems to ensure better preparedness, disaster risk management, and long-term rebuilding, reconstruction, and resilience from climate and other shocks.
- The use of technology, and other tools to assist in recovery and disaster preparedness.
- Map out and review the existing policy planning documents and systems, map out learning from past responses to natural disasters including the 2004 Tsunami, in order to understand existing knowledge / resources on disaster response in order to be able to understand gaps and future steps.
- All subsequent structural reforms and operational mechanisms must be transparent/accountable, consultative and inclusive with representation from all relevant stakeholders.
Emerging and Long-term issues
To build back better in the long term, Sri Lanka must:
- Map existing legal and policy frameworks to comprehensively identify gaps and shortcomings in disaster management and recovery systems.
- Introduce new laws and policies, developed in a transparent and inclusive manner, specifically required for the phases of Restitution, Rebuilding, and Reconstruction.
- Implement structural reforms to address long-term needs in the broad areas discussed while factoring in underlying socio-economic issues.
We hope that this will assist in initiatives to build back better from this crisis. We urge you to initiate the necessary action, as well as regular consultations and the sharing of information in all three languages, on the above areas without further delay, and look forward to engaging in the furtherance of this goal.
A more detailed policy brief will follow this letter.
Yours sincerely,
Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu,
Executive Director
CC:
Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education
Hon. Sajith Premadasa, Leader of the Opposition
Hon. Vijitha Herath, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism
Hon. Prof. Chandana Abeyratne, Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils, Local Government
Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara, Minister of Justice and National Integration
Hon. Sarojani Savithri Paulraj, Minister of Women and Child Affairs
Hon. K.D. Lalkantha, Minister of Agriculture, Lands, Livestock and Irrigation
Hon. Anura Karunathilake, Minister of Urban Development, Construction and Housing
Hon. Ramalingam Chandrasekar, Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources
Hon. Prof. Upali Pannilage, Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment
Hon. Sunil Handunneththi, Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development
Hon. Ananda Wijepala, Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs
Hon Bimal Rathnayake, Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation
Hon. Prof. Hiniduma Sunil Senevi, Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs
Hon. Dr. Nalinda Jayathissa, Minister of Health and Media
Hon. Samantha Vidyarathna, Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure
Hon. Sunil Kumara Gamage, Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports
Hon. Wasantha Samarasingha, Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Co-operative Development
Hon. Prof. Chrishantha Abeysena, Minister of Science and Technology
Hon. Prof. Anil Jayantha Fernando, Minister of Labour
Hon. Eng. Kumara Jayakody, Minister of Energy
Hon. Dr Dhammika Patabandi, Minister of Environment
Mrs. Kushani Anusha Rohanadeera, Secretary General of Parliament.