A new Loughborough University-led study on Cyclone Ditwah highlights how weaknesses in Sri Lanka’s disaster preparedness and planning intensified the impacts of the catastrophic November–December 2025 event. The research, led by Professor Dilanthi Amaratunga of Loughborough University, found that the cyclone affected approximately 2.3 million people, displaced over 200,000, and caused an estimated US$4.1 billion in damage. The study emphasizes the need for a trusted, multilingual, multi-hazard early warning system, stronger local government capacity, safer urban planning, and better coordination in disaster communication. It also presents Cyclone Ditwah as a critical opportunity for Sri Lanka to reassess its vulnerabilities and strengthen resilience against future extreme events.
Read the full article from: https://www.lboro.ac.uk/news-events/news/2026/february/cyclone-ditwah/
Read the publication from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pdisas.2026.100518