6 December 2025, Kegalle, Sri Lanka.  UN-Habitat Sri Lanka’s technical team joined a high-level delegation headed by the Hon. Minister of Housing, Construction and Water Supply, Dr. H.M. Susil Ranasinghe and the Hon. Minister of Environment, Dr. Dammika Patabendi to visit cyclone-impacted areas in Mawanella in the Kegalle District. The Secretary to the Ministry of Housing, Construction and Water Supply, Mr. L. Kumudu Lal Bogahawatta; Chairman of the National Housing Development Authority, Mr. Aravinda Srinatha; Divisional Secretary of Mawanella, and other senior officials participated in the visit. UN-Habitat was represented by the National Project Manager and the Town and Country Planner of the Sri Lanka Office.

During the field visit, discussions focused on practical and technical approaches to accurately collect ground-level housing damage data and identify #reconstruction needs following Cyclone Ditwah.

The team then visited affected locations to carry out rapid assessments of houses and infrastructure impacted by landslides and floods, engaging with local authorities and communities. This effort will strengthen national housing damage data collection systems and support the development of an effective digital platform, including data analysis by UN-HABITAT, to guide planning, reconstruction, and recovery.

According to the Disaster Management Centre, Cyclone Ditwah has caused 627 deaths and affected more than 2.17 million people across 25 districts in Sri Lanka.