The Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) has monitored the human rights and governance situation post Cyclone Ditwah including the ground situation in several districts. A team from CPA visited several areas in the Central and Uva Provinces from 5-8 January 2026 and was able to engage with different stakeholders including affected communities in several GS divisions in the two provinces. CPA hopes to prepare a comprehensive brief on its findings shortly but sharing this letter considering the urgency of several issues that require immediate attention. The following are key points we raise for your immediate consideration-
- Lack of sufficient public information and awareness on warning and assistance. CPA spoke with affected communities, service providers and local groups who confirmed of continuing gaps with information and language discrepancies. This is exacerbated at a time when new weather warnings have been issued in areas in the two provinces, with some communities unaware of new warnings. CPA urges the authorities to urgently issues all warnings in the three languages and to ensure such warnings are accessible to all communities including those in temporary shelters and hazardous areas.
- CPA was also informed by several communities in the two provinces that they had not received any government assistance including the assistance of Rs25,000 and Rs50,000. For example, communities in the Bramley Estate in Highforest area had not received any assistance, despite over 40days passing since the cyclone. We urge you to be proactive in reaching out to all communities affected including those in estates who continue to face numerous challenges.
- Delays with infrastructure assistance. Several areas visited by the CPA team noted that damage to houses, schools, community buildings and other areas that have yet to be inspected by the authorities. Additionally, several roads are yet to be cleared and are not accessible to the public. The situation in several estates is dire with roads and buildings in a precarious situation. CPA was informed that in some areas affected communities have been informed to return to their areas of residence despite worsening weather conditions. The situation is made more complex with questions raised with certain findings of the NBRO that has ignored the hazardous conditions on the ground. CPA urges a comprehensive risk assessment conducted in all areas that are affected, ensuring that affected communities are informed of persisting dangers, alternative lands identified with a conflict sensitive approach taken towards rebuilding and recovery efforts.
- Urgent attention with educational needs. Several communities raised the fact that children in several areas in these two provinces are unable to attend school due to a range of reasons including displacement, non-functioning of schools, having to travel long distances in precarious conditions, destruction of class rooms, school books and supplies, being some of the reasons. We urge the authorities to immediately take steps to address urgent issues raised in the education sector including assisting children and communities affected, identifying alternative sites for temporary schools that are safe and accessible and immediate construction of educational facilities that are damaged and destroyed.
- Need to provide essential food, water, sanitation, shelter and livelihood assistance. CPA was informed by several affected communities in the two provinces of the lack of sufficient resources available with the above. In particular areas such as Spring Valley in Badulla and Highforest in Nuwara Eliya, communities live in precarious shelters with lack of proper water and sanitation available. With new weather warnings issued in the last 24hours, fears have exacerbated in relation to basic essential services facing further challenges and CPA urges the government to take immediate steps to provide basic facilities to these communities.
- Lack of confidence and trust with government assistance and services due to discrepancies and delays. CPA noted that several communities in the two provinces have either not received assistance and information or faced discrimination in the services provided so far. There are also concerns in light of the setbacks faced by vulnerable communities including women, children, youth, the elderly and others. In particular, many in the Malaiyaha Tamil community face multiple social and financial challenges in the face of structural inequalities. It is paramount that the authorities give leadership in communicating with all affected communities and facilitating assistance that is based on equity, non-discrimination, conflict sensitivity, transparency and accountability.
In addition to the above immediate concerns, many other issues were raised with the CPA team and these will be shared with the authorities shortly. We look forward to constructively engaging with you in addressing these and other concerns.
Thank you
Yours Sincerely,
Dr. P. Saravanamuttu