Adventist Church Assists Families After Sri Lanka’s Cyclone Ditwah

A powerful cyclone, “Ditwah,” struck Sri Lanka on November 27, 2025, causing widespread devastation across the country. Considered the most severe cyclone to hit the island in approximately 130 years, the disaster affected all provinces, resulting in extensive loss of life, infrastructure damage, and livelihood disruptions.

According to government reports, the cyclone claimed 635 lives and caused massive destruction to housing, public infrastructure, agriculture, industry, and essential services. The Sri Lankan government has estimated total damages at USD 4.1 billion and has appealed to the international community and donor partners for support to rebuild homes, infrastructure, roads, bridges, industries, and livelihoods, and to restore the nation to normalcy.

In response to the disaster, the Ceylon Mission of Seventh-day Adventists took swift action to address urgent needs. Immediately following the cyclone, the Mission president mobilized emergency response efforts and secured relief funding from the Northern Asia-Pacific Division (NSD), the Adventist headquarters in the region. This support enabled the Mission to provide immediate assistance to affected church members, including cooked meals, clothing, kitchen utensils, and dry food rations.

The Ceylon Mission extended its relief efforts beyond church members to support surrounding communities living in the same villages, including non-Adventist families who had not received immediate assistance from government agencies or other relief organizations. As a result, 830 families, representing approximately 3,300 individuals, received emergency food and basic necessities.

The total value of emergency relief distributed reached approximately US$25,000. In addition to food assistance, the support included educational materials for 245 children who lost school supplies, mattresses provided in response to government requests, community meal distributions for non-Adventist residents, joint outreach initiatives conducted with Adventist healthcare institutions and local churches, and the renovation of sanitation facilities in severely affected communities.

As immediate relief operations begin to wind down, the Ceylon Mission is transitioning toward a recovery and development-focused response. Flooding caused by the cyclone destroyed agricultural lands, vegetable gardens, poultry and dairy operations, fishing equipment, and small-scale businesses, leaving many families without stable income or employment.

Mission administrators and the Community Services department are currently collecting detailed damage assessments from local pastors and documenting losses in housing, livelihoods, agriculture, livestock, fisheries, and small- and medium-sized enterprises. Decisions regarding further assistance will depend on remaining resources and budget availability, with priority given to families facing urgent economic hardship and loss of income.

Ceylon Mission representative stated, “This disaster has gone beyond physical destruction and has deeply impacted the livelihoods and dignity of many families. The church remains committed not only to immediate relief, but also to walking alongside affected communities as they rebuild their lives with hope and resilience.”

The original article was published on the Northern Asia-Pacific Division news site.