As Cyclone Ditwah exposes the cracks in Sri Lanka’s disaster preparedness, experts warn that without stronger public response systems, unified coordination, scientific literacy, and legal reforms, future catastrophes could hit even harder.
Cyclone Ditwah has now gone down as one of the worst disasters in Sri Lanka’s recent history. More than a week after the catastrophe, the country is still counting the losses. All but three districts were battered by floods, landslides and storm-driven destruction. The death toll has surpassed 600, over 200 people remain missing and more than 5,000 houses have been completely destroyed. This moment has pushed many into asking a pointed question: after building a disaster management structure nearly two decades ago, how prepared was Sri Lanka to respond to a disaster of this scale and how much more strengthening does the system now require?
Specialists stress that even the strongest disaster management systems around the world struggle when confronted with an event of extreme magnitude. They explain that no country has the full capability to handle a situation identical to what Sri Lanka faced. While the system in place appeared strong on paper, the experience of Cyclone Ditwah has shown that significant upgrading, restructuring and behavioural change will be needed in the years ahead.
The Disaster Management Centre, established under the Sri Lanka Disaster Management Act No. 13 of 2005, remains the country’s main institution responsible for reducing disaster risks, coordinating preparedness, issuing early warnings and responding to emergencies. The agency works with key national bodies and maintains district, divisional and Grama Niladhari-level committees. It also manages District Disaster Management Coordination Units to support operations at sub-national levels. Sri Lanka’s disaster management framework covers a wide range of hazards, from floods and landslides to industrial accidents, chemical spills, epidemics, earthquakes and more.
Pradeep Kodippili, Deputy Director of the Disaster Management Centre, explained that the institution’s main responsibility is to educate vulnerable communities long before disasters strike. According to him, total elimination of risk is impossible, but through proper awareness and evacuation processes, lives can be saved. He said that landslide-prone areas are regularly studied and “between 300-400 awareness programs” are conducted annually. High-risk, medium-risk and low-risk zones are clearly marked and evacuation drills are carried out. People are also trained on where they should go after receiving evacuation notices. Kodippili said that even Grama Niladharis undergo annual one-day disaster management training programs.
He explained that Sri Lanka has close to 15 early warning systems and that similar procedures were followed during Cyclone Ditwah. “We called all the media and held a press conference on the 25th. We said that this is what could happen, announcements have been issued. Yellow announcements stay alert, red announcements we said to evacuate immediately. We said it through the media, through the Grama Niladhari, through the police, through the tri forces, through the communication networks, through all of them. We continuously sent SMS messages to hundreds of thousands of people,” he said. The center also pre-positioned boats “two days in advance” in potential flood zones. “We had our equipment close to places where we thought there would be a storm, a flood, two days in advance. Just in case,” he added. Kodippili said the red alert notices were given in multiple stages, starting with yellow, then amber, and finally red for immediate evacuation.
Despite these efforts, authorities acknowledge that one of the biggest problems was the “public’s failure to respond to early warnings at the right time.” Kodippili shared that many people are reluctant to leave their homes, citing fears of theft or concerns over property. “In my experience, people do not go away just by giving the message. When asked, they say, ‘House thieves have broken in,’ and they are afraid. In some places, the whole family leaves and one person remains to protect the house,” he said. This behavioural pattern was observed in previous disasters as well. He recalled the 2016 and 2017 disasters, where people ignored warnings until water entered their homes. “When the house started to sink, they called us and told us to send boats,” he said.
Senior geologist R.M.S. Bandara also pointed out that many people failed to consider the risks despite repeated warnings. “The problem in Sri Lanka is that people do not consider whether it is high risk or medium risk. We found the answer to that the day before yesterday,” he said. Kodippili noted that while many women attend training programs, many of the people who make household decisions do not participate. He also stressed that relief camps are fully resourced, but getting people to move remains the challenge.
Professor Dilanthi Amaratunga, a leading expert in Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation at Loughborough University, explained that Sri Lanka must strengthen several areas in its disaster management system. She highlighted the need for a joint coordination mechanism, noting that floods are handled by the Irrigation Department, tsunamis by the Disaster Management Centre, and landslides by the National Building Research Institute. With many agencies involved, gaps in communication can easily occur. A unified coordination mechanism, she said, would reduce duplication and improve efficiency. She added that Sri Lanka’s existing administrative framework is overly complex with central, provincial and local government layers creating opportunities for responsibilities to slip through cracks.
Professor Amaratunga also stressed the importance of large-scale public participation activities. She explained that people must understand the purpose and seriousness of early warnings. “People’s lives are more valuable than anything else. We cannot stop the building from collapsing just because we have given early warnings. But if there are people inside those buildings, their lives can be saved,” she said. Misinformation was another major concern, particularly during Cyclone Ditwah. She explained that authorities must counter misinformation with clear, actionable communication. Social media, especially platforms like TikTok and Facebook, spread misleading warnings, causing confusion. She said a culture that listens to credible information must be built.
Another crucial area is scientific literacy. According to Professor Amaratunga, the gap between scientific research and public understanding is significant. Researchers are not given enough opportunities to engage with local communities. She stressed that disaster literacy should be introduced through schools, as children can carry that knowledge back to households. “The other best way to make people understand is to target young children. If children are taught these things in school, they will go home and tell them. Then parents will be aware,” she said.
She added that Sri Lanka needs to inform the public in advance about evacuation routes and shelters. Communities should know where they are expected to go when red notices are issued. People must also take responsibility instead of expecting the government to handle every aspect. Additionally, existing laws must be amended to enforce relocation from high-risk zones. Kodippili gave an example where the National Building Research Institute provided safe land and Rs. 2.5 million to build new homes. However, some beneficiaries rented out the new house and continued living in the high-risk zone. “Existing laws are not sufficient to demolish the old house in the risk zone,” he said. Professor Amaratunga agreed, saying, “We definitely need to think again about the legal situation. If they do not move out, a law should be brought in and they can be removed.”
She concluded by stating that Sri Lankans tend to delay action. “They don’t listen to what you say. They say that water is coming, but when they get to the lower floor, they say that it hasn’t reached the first floor. Even then, Sri Lanka doesn’t have the capacity to send rescue teams,” she said.
The disaster caused by Cyclone Ditwah has served as a hard lesson. While Sri Lanka’s disaster management architecture has many strengths, behavioural challenges, fragmented coordination, misinformation and gaps in scientific understanding continue to undermine its effectiveness. Experts agree that for Sri Lanka to face the accelerating climate risks ahead, a stronger, more unified and better-informed system must be built — one that empowers communities before disaster strikes.
