Sri Lanka Braces for Catastrophic Cyclone Ditwah

COLOMBO (News 1st);  Sri Lanka is under a red alert as Cyclonic Storm Ditwah intensifies in the Bay of Bengal and moves toward the island, bringing torrential rains, destructive winds, and dangerous sea conditions. 

he Department of Meteorology has warned that the storm, currently centered southwest of Batticaloa, is likely to track north-northwest, cutting across the eastern and central regions before moving inland.

According to official advisories, Ditwah’s projected path will sweep from the eastern coastline near Batticaloa and Pottuvil, across Polonnaruwa and Badulla, and toward the north-central plains. The system is expected to maintain cyclonic strength over the next 24 hours, with forecast positions indicating continued movement inland.

The entire island is under a heavy rain warning, with maps showing almost all districts marked in red. 

The Department of Meteorology predicts:

Very heavy rainfall exceeding 200 mm in Northern, North-Central, Central, and North-Western provinces and Trincomalee.

Above 150 mm in Sabaragamuwa, Western, Badulla, and Batticaloa districts.

Strong winds of 60–70 km/h, gusting up to 80–90 km/h, across most parts of the island.

Intermittent showers and thunderstorms are expected island-wide, with flash floods and landslides posing imminent threats.