Sri Lanka Lifts Emergency Eight Months After Devastating Cyclone
Colombo-Sri Lanka on Wednesday ended the nationwide state of emergency imposed after Cyclone Ditwah killed hundreds of people in November 2025, with the government saying extraordinary powers introduced for disaster response were no longer required.
Media Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said the emergency regulations, which had been renewed monthly since the cyclone struck eight months ago, would not be extended.
“From now on, there will be no state of emergency in the country,” Jayatissa told reporters.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake declared the emergency shortly after Cyclone Ditwah swept across the island with heavy rain and powerful winds, leaving 643 people dead and causing infrastructure damage estimated at $4.1 billion.
The emergency measures enabled the government to deploy military personnel for search-and-rescue operations, clear damaged highways and railway lines, restore essential services and support relief efforts in affected areas.
The regulations also authorized authorities to take control of damaged properties to prevent looting and illegal occupation.
The main opposition has accused the government of using emergency powers to suppress political dissent, allegations that authorities have consistently rejected.
Under Sri Lanka’s Constitution, a state of emergency can be declared for one month at a time and requires parliamentary approval for each extension.
Cyclone Ditwah was the country’s worst natural disaster in two decades and struck as Sri Lanka was recovering from its severe economic crisis in 2022.
The country has since secured a $2.9 billion bailout programme from the International Monetary Fund to stabilize the economy. Inflation eased to 6.8% last month, down from a peak of 69.8% in September 2022, reflecting a broader improvement in macroeconomic conditions.
