Colombo

Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has declared a nationwide state of emergency in response to the catastrophic floods caused by Cyclone Ditwah.

The official gazette, dated Friday and released on Saturday, formalizes the emergency measures. The move follows calls from opposition leaders during an all-party meeting and appeals from the doctors’ trade union emphasizing the need for urgent action.

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The emergency declaration is intended to accelerate relief efforts by enabling faster coordination of troops, police, health services, civil administration, and the civil defence force. Authorities said the regulation will facilitate prompt deployment to the areas most affected by the disaster.

Cyclone Ditwah exited Sri Lanka on Saturday, moving toward the southern coast of India, but heavy rainfall and strong winds are expected to continue affecting the island. Athula Karunanayake, Director General of the Meteorology Department, noted that while the cyclone has moved on, its indirect impact will persist for some time.

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According to the Disaster Management Centre (DMC), at 9 am on Saturday, at least 123 people had died and 130 were reported missing. Officials warned that the toll could be significantly higher, as communication breakdowns in severely impacted areas have delayed verification of the full scale of the disaster.