Story perspectives

Cyclone Ditwah Devastates Sri Lanka's Tourism and Biodiversity

12/27/2025

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Cyclone Disrupts Tourism

Cyclone Ditwah severely disrupted Sri Lanka's hill country, halting nature-based tourism during the peak season.
UNESCO sites Knuckles Conservation Forest and Horton Plains closed due to damage, triggering mass cancellations that threaten livelihoods.
Experts warn against hasty reopenings and urge careful recovery to protect biodiversity.
Access to Adam’s Peak is restricted due to landslides, while the Royal Botanical Gardens of Peradeniya flooded, with restoration costs estimated at 120 million rupees.

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Cyclone Strikes Sri Lanka

In Badulla, Sri Lanka, Cyclone Ditwah affected nearly two million people and caused over 640 deaths.
More than 66,000 people were displaced.
Many residents are living in temporary shelters such as schools and temples, including 78-year-old R.A.R. Premadasa who remains determined to rebuild.
The Sri Lanka Red Cross Society emphasizes climate-resilient infrastructure to mitigate future disasters.
Local farmers face challenges from changing weather patterns that have reduced crop yields.

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Cyclone Disrupts Tourism

Cyclone Ditwah severely disrupted Sri Lanka's hill country, halting nature-based tourism during the peak season.
UNESCO sites Knuckles Conservation Forest and Horton Plains closed due to damage, triggering mass cancellations that threaten livelihoods.
Experts warn against hasty reopenings and urge careful recovery to protect biodiversity.
Access to Adam’s Peak is restricted due to landslides, while the Royal Botanical Gardens of Peradeniya flooded, with restoration costs estimated at 120 million rupees.

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