For Sri Lankans, November has become a reminder of how quickly heavy rain can change lives. In November 2025, Cyclone Ditwah brought devastating floods and landslides across the country, leaving hundreds dead, destroying homes and displacing thousands of families. Almost a year later, the country has experienced further flooding and severe weather during 2026, reminding communities that the challenges of living with heavy rainfall have not disappeared.
The heavy rainfall in October and November, have once again disrupted daily life. Families have been evacuated, houses damaged, roads inundated and communities placed under flood and landslide warnings. For people who experienced Ditwah, these events have brought back difficult memories of the previous year.
Yet, these disasters have also shown how people continue to support one another. From rescue operations involving the armed forces to volunteers distributing food, neighbours helping families move their belongings and strangers contributing essential supplies, community solidarity has remained important.
As Sri Lanka approaches one year since Ditwah, we spoke to our readers on how they have coped with repeated flooding, the support they have received and the lessons that still need to be learned.
Cyclone Ditwah struck Sri Lanka on 28 November 2025, bringing intense rainfall, widespread flooding and landslides. The disaster affected more than 2.2 million people across the country, with over 640 deaths and 173 people reported missing as of January 2026.
Entire communities were inundated, homes were destroyed and infrastructure was severely damaged. Roads and railway lines were disrupted, while families in several districts were forced to seek shelter elsewhere.
For many people, the experience involved leaving their homes with very little time to collect their belongings. Others spent hours waiting for rescue or trying to contact relatives in affected areas.
One of the defining features of the response to Ditwah was the way ordinary people came together to help those affected.
As communities struggled with rising floodwaters, volunteers organised food collections, prepared meals and distributed drinking water. Churches, temples and other religious institutions opened their doors to provide temporary shelter. Individuals donated clothing, medicine, dry rations and other essentials.
Some people used their own vehicles and boats to reach affected neighbourhoods, while others helped evacuate elderly residents, children and people with disabilities.
“I remember doing a lot of volunteering during cyclone Ditwah,” Ashwin Ranasinghe, 24, said. “I also aim to help with other disasters such as floods.”
The Sri Lanka Red Cross Society mobilised volunteers across the country to assist with rescue operations, first aid and relief distribution. The armed forces and emergency services also played an important role in reaching communities cut off by flooding and landslides.
These efforts demonstrated that disaster response was not limited to government institutions. Ordinary citizens also became an important part of the relief effort.
The challenges did not end with Ditwah. In October 2026, another spell of heavy rainfall affected several others with reports of heavy rains and flooding.
“I couldn’t go anywhere, even to professional events, because of the heavy flooding,” Nelum B, said. “It was very difficult.”
For communities that had already experienced Ditwah, repeated flooding has meant dealing with the possibility of further damage while still recovering from previous difficulties.
The Met Department stated that the unusually high intensity of rainfall over a short period of time was a contributing factor to the flooding. However many people stated that the effects of the flooding were partly due to poor management, with the opposition calling for the resignation of the Mayor of Colombo.
“I definitely do not think the mayor should be removed,” a reader who wished to be anonymous said. “However, I think that this is an opportunity to reflect on how we handle and plan for environmental issues and disasters.”
The United Nations and its humanitarian partners provided assistance to 575,000 vulnerable people following Ditwah. However, many families continued to face difficulties with housing, employment, education and access to clean water.
The experience of repeated flooding also highlights the emotional burden of living in vulnerable areas. The sound of heavy rain can create anxiety for people who have previously experienced displacement or lost loved ones.
Checking on neighbours, sharing accurate information and helping vulnerable residents prepare for evacuation are practical ways communities can support one another.
As Sri Lanka approaches the first anniversary of Ditwah, the subsequent floods of 2026 provide an opportunity to reflect on disaster preparedness and recovery.
The generosity of volunteers and ordinary citizens has shown the importance of community support. However, long-term solutions also require better drainage, reliable early warning systems, accessible evacuation centres and stronger protection for communities living in flood and landslide-prone areas.
“I think relying on each other is the best way to face these floods,” Ashini Perera,29, said. “Whether we like it or not, we are a country affected by monsoons. Helping each other out by providing each other with transport and resources is the best way to help.”
Remembering Ditwah should also mean remembering the people who helped others through it. From volunteers preparing meals to neighbours opening their homes, countless acts of kindness made difficult circumstances more manageable.
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