November 28th, 2025 - Cyclone Slams Sri Lanka as Death Toll Rises to 69

Sri Lanka was struck by severe rains and violent winds early Friday as Cyclone Ditwah made landfall on the island’s eastern coast, triggering deadly floods and landslides. By evening, officials said at least 69 people had been killed, warning that the final toll could be far higher once rescue teams reach all affected areas. Entire towns, including several heritage sites, were submerged. Videos posted by residents showed floodwaters rising to second-story windows and partially washing away bridges. Train service was halted, major highways were cut off, and widespread power and telecommunications outages were reported across the island.

The main international airport near Colombo diverted more than a dozen flights overnight to other Sri Lankan cities or to India. Government offices stayed closed, and authorities extended school holidays by an additional week as emergency crews struggled to reach affected communities. “This is the most widespread rainfall we’ve seen in a decade,” said A. Gunasekara, the head of the country’s irrigation department. By late Friday, disaster officials said more than 200,000 people had experienced major flooding or damage to their homes, fields, and crops. While the cyclone was expected to move past Sri Lanka by Saturday evening, heavy rains were forecast to continue through the weekend.

The devastation comes as Sri Lanka, a nation of 23 million, is still rebuilding from its economic collapse three years ago. Most of the recorded deaths occurred during the two days leading up to the cyclone, as storms brewing in the Bay of Bengal intensified.

The military deployed helicopters to rescue people stranded by rapidly rising water. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake convened an emergency meeting with district leaders, and Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya said the government’s top priority was saving those trapped by floods or landslides. Officials reported that 34 people were still missing, with the worst-hit area being Badulla in the central highlands, where landslides claimed at least 30 lives.

The cyclone is Sri Lanka’s deadliest natural disaster since 2017, and authorities fear Colombo could face its worst flooding in years. Much of the capital sits within the Kelani River Basin, an area now under high-risk warning. Meteorologists issued maps showing nearly the entire country covered in red, signaling extreme rainfall and winds of 40 to 50 miles per hour across most regions.

Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster) - Sustain (verb, suh-STAYN) - To sustain someone or something is to provide what is needed for that person or thing to exist or continue. Sustain also means "to hold up the weight of," "to suffer or endure," or "to confirm or prove." In legal contexts, to sustain something is to decide or state that it is proper, legal, or fair.

Example: Hope sustained us during that difficult time.

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