Last updated on March 30th 2026

Cyclone Ditwah devastated communities across Sri Lanka’s Central and Uva Provinces and elsewhere, but its impact has been particularly severe for the Malaiyaha Tamil community. Several months after the cyclone struck, the response or lack thereof, in certain areas has exposed how pre-existing structural inequalities magnify the effects of natural disasters. The challenges these communities face are not simply about immediate relief; they reflect decades of systemic governance failures and human rights issues that disaster responses often fail to address. 

The Language Barrier in Emergencies

When disaster strikes, timely information can mean the difference between safety and danger. However, across multiple districts, essential disaster-related information, including early warnings, relief announcements, and compensation guidelines, has primarily been issued in Sinhala. Despite both Sinhala and Tamil being official languages, Tamil-language materials have often been unavailable or significantly delayed. Reports indicate that some communities received early warnings late, including alerts issued in January. This language barrier affects not only early warnings but also extends to critical assistance and compensation information, impacting Tamil-speaking communities in various disaster-affected areas, not limited to the hill country. Additionally, lapses in language communication can significantly impact safety, as critical information may not be accurately conveyed to those who need it most, potentially exacerbating the risks faced by these communities during disasters. 

The consequences of this language barrier extend beyond mere inconvenience. Many Tamil-speaking communities were unaware of the available state assistance, and accessing government services often required hiring translators. This forced individuals to forgo their daily wages to navigate administrative processes. During emergencies, such language barriers directly undermine safety, hinder early evacuation, and limit access to relief. This situation represents a denial of language rights and equitable access to public services.

In addition to practical challenges, uncertainty regarding government assistance, policy decisions, and resettlement efforts has caused significant anxiety within the community. Many individuals continue to experience distress due to confusion over formal guidance and temporary arrangements—confusion that largely stems from the lack of accurate information and clear explanations provided in their native language. 

Administrative Capacity 

The hill country is facing a significant administrative challenge: the Grama Niladhari divisions in these regions have much higher populations compared to other areas. For instance, in the Nuwara Eliya district, the average population in plantation area divisions is three times greater than in other divisions within the same district. Some divisions have more than 13,000 residents, while populations in others range from 3,000 to 5,000 people, all served by just one Grama Niladhari.

This situation has led to delays in inspections, incomplete damage assessments, and insufficient compensation coverage. Months after the cyclone, several affected areas continue to report extensive damage to housing, schools, community buildings, bridges, drainage systems, protective walls, preschool facilities, medical centres, childcare centres, and other critical infrastructure that have yet to be formally assessed by the relevant authorities.

Field reports from estates such as Kongodiyawa, located in the Nuwara Eliya district, further highlight these gaps in administrative response. Despite severe damage to internal estate roads and ongoing water flow from higher elevations, no proper assessments on infrastructure needs have been conducted. Estate management has also failed to visit affected areas or engage with workers, leaving communities without institutional support or recognition of their conditions.

Despite these challenges, residents in some areas have been instructed to return to their homes by GS, even though adverse weather conditions persist. Families from Eskdale Estate in Kandapola were moved back from the kovil hall to their homes, but they remained fearful of returning. This raises serious concerns, especially in areas where roads remain unsafe and housing structures have not been deemed fit for habitation.

Additionally, there are significant setbacks for vulnerable communities, including women, children, youth, the elderly, and others.  In Kongodiyawa Estate mothers have reported concerns about the safety of young children and stated that they have temporarily sent their children to stay with relatives for protection. For example, one mother said that one of her children is staying with relatives in the Nanuoya area, while another child is staying with relatives in Ambewela. Due to the lack of facilities for education and health, children’s learning activities have been disrupted. Although some students had completely discontinued their schooling, it is reported that, with the intervention of local administrative officials, they have returned to school. Even now, many students are not attending school regularly, causing parents to worry that further disruptions may occur.

Compensation Issues 

Compensation mechanisms are unclear, inconsistent, and exclusionary. While official statements suggested phased compensation payments, affected communities reported confusion about eligibility and timelines. In several areas, discrepancies exist regarding what has been paid and the payment process. In the Hill country and estate regions, many individuals have not received any compensation at all. For example, communities in certain estate areas had not received compensation even after months had passed since the cyclone. In St. Leonard’s Estate, Ragala, individuals engaged in agricultural activities have yet to receive compensation for their losses. Furthermore, the widening of the riverbanks has rendered it challenging for them to identify or delineate the plots of land they once farmed.

A significant number of small businesses remain unassessed, as government assessment officers have yet to conduct site visits. Small traders and home-based businesses are particularly disadvantaged because their lack of formal registration has rendered them ineligible for relief, despite losing their only sources of income. 

Administrative delays have worsened these exclusions. In several areas, inspections were either conducted inadequately or not performed at all. Communities were advised to document their damage independently and proceed with clean-up efforts, but official assessments failed to follow. These procedural gaps have effectively shifted the burden of proof onto the affected households while freeing authorities from accountability.

Furthermore, in certain areas where livestock losses occurred, the government compensation fell short of the actual value of the animals. For instance, they awarded just 50,000 for a lost cow, despite the cow’s true worth being significantly higher. 

Land and Housing

The aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah has revealed longstanding issues related to landlessness and tenure insecurity. The lack of secure land tenure systematically excludes Malaiyaha communities from receiving housing assistance and participating in rebuilding and reconstruction efforts. While the cyclone has brought these issues to light, the state has not yet provided a clear plan for addressing tenure security and finding durable solutions.

Discussions about possible relocation have largely overlooked the reliance of Malaiyaha communities on specific geographical locations for their livelihoods. Many affected families depend on vegetable cultivation, tea plucking, or work in estate settings, making relocation to unfamiliar or distant areas economically impractical. Government proposals to rent alternative housing do not reflect the realities on the ground; rental options are scarce in estate regions and often require formal contracts or deposits that are difficult to obtain. Even when rental assistance is suggested, there is no clarity regarding its availability or duration.

There are ongoing discussions about constructing apartments for affected individuals in the Hill Country. However, several concerns have been raised about the feasibility and security of such proposals. The issues surrounding land, housing, and relocation are complex and necessitate transparent, inclusive discussions that involve affected communities and other stakeholders. Additionally, it is crucial to base these discussions on risk assessments of the affected areas to address these challenges in a conflict-sensitive and equitable manner.

Protection Concerns and Vulnerable Groups

A significant number of people remain displaced and are unable to return to their homes. Reports from various locations indicate overcrowding, poor sanitation, and inadequate waste management. Women, children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities face heightened risks. There has been an increase in domestic violence, concerns for safety in camps, and heightened distress, particularly among children.

In February 2026, in areas such as Rendapola–Hagala in Nuwara Eliya, displaced families were living in temporary shelters that lack even the most basic facilities. These shelters are not suited to the cold climate of the hill country, leaving residents, especially children and the elderly, struggling to cope with low temperatures. Access to drinking water is limited, often requiring long-distance travel, while electricity shortages further deteriorate living conditions.

Sanitation facilities are severely inadequate. For example, 23 displaced families living in shelters in Haggala have access to only five washrooms, raising serious concerns about hygiene, dignity, and health risks.

Despite these risks, support services are largely absent. Some families have chosen to stay with relatives instead of in camps due to protection concerns, which further complicates access to relief.

Prolonged displacement is also a growing issue. In Kongodiyawa Estate, families have been living in a single hall (Eskadala Kovil Hall) for over 85 days. Such extended stays in overcrowded shared spaces have intensified vulnerabilities, particularly for pregnant women, elderly individuals, and families with disabled children who require specialised care. Moreover, persons with disabilities faced challenges in the shelters, prompting many to seek refuge with their relatives instead. The difficulties within the shelter environment made it difficult for them to feel secure and supported.

Access to healthcare is another critical concern, as transportation barriers and poor infrastructure make it difficult to respond to medical emergencies in a timely manner.

The Need for Context-Specific Response

The response to Cyclone Ditwah illustrates how disaster impacts are magnified when emergency measures fail to engage with entrenched structural inequalities. For the Malaiyaha Tamil community, the cyclone has exposed longstanding governance failures relating to language access, land rights, institutional neglect, and social protection.

The immediate priorities are clear: all warnings and assistance information must be issued in all three official languages and made accessible to communities in temporary shelters and hazardous areas. Authorities must be proactive in reaching out to all affected communities, including those in estates. Comprehensive risk assessments must be conducted in all affected areas, ensuring that affected communities are informed of persisting dangers and that alternative lands are identified with a conflict-sensitive approach. Urgent steps must be taken to address issues in the education sector, including assisting affected children and communities, identifying safe and accessible alternative sites for temporary schools, and immediately beginning construction of damaged and destroyed facilities. Basic facilities, including food, water, sanitation, shelter, and livelihood assistance, must be provided to all communities without discrimination.

A meaningful recovery demands a context-specific, rights-based approach that centres the lived realities of the Malaiyaha Tamil communities, strengthens local administrative capacity, ensures language parity, and delivers durable solutions. Without such an approach, Cyclone Ditwah risks becoming yet another moment of crisis that reinforces historical marginalisation rather than correcting it.

References

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1442528840813723 

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1441504574294369&extid=CL-UNK-UNK-UNK-AN_GK0T-GK1C&ref=sharing 

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1593619461904033 

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1540333103702631 

https://groundviews.org/2026/03/08/what-cyclone-ditwah-reveals-about-inequality-in-sri-lanka/ 

https://groundviews.org/2026/02/12/beyond-monetary-compensation-memory-and-space-after-ditwah/ 

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/18Br5UL2Bd/ 

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1JWseF7Mv6/