The assessment shows that the damage—covering buildings and household contents, agriculture, and critical infrastructure—amounts to nearly 4% of Sri Lanka’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), highlighting the significant scale of losses and the long road to recovery facing the country.
Described as one of the most intense and destructive cyclones in recent history, Cyclone Ditwah severely affected nearly 2 million people and around 500,000 families across all 25 districts. The disaster disrupted livelihoods, damaged essential services, and placed additional strain on the national economy.
The World Bank noted that the figures reflect immediate physical damage and do not include longer-term economic losses, which are expected to further impact growth and development. The report underscores the urgent need for coordinated recovery efforts, resilient reconstruction, and targeted support for affected communities as Sri Lanka works to rebuild in the aftermath of the cyclone.
