Kristina Beanland
Published December 1, 2025 12:48pm
Updated December 1, 2025 12:48pm
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Sri Lanka has been devastated by Cyclone Ditwah (Picture: Ishara S. KODIKARA / AFP via Getty Images)
Sri Lanka has been hit by a huge cyclone, with flood surges and mudslides killing over 400 people.
Cyclone Ditwah made landfall on Friday, November 28, causing devastation across the country, the worst flood disaster in the country in more than 20 years.
While death tolls estimates vary, the United Nations is reporting more than 400 have been killed, with thousands more still missing.
Officials said about a third of Sri Lanka now has no running water or electricity, with around 20,000 home destroyed, forcing families into state run accommodation.
The Sri Lankan president, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, declared a state of emergency, and has appealed for international aid, with India and Pakistan sending rescue teams.
So, if you’re currently in Sri Lanka, or are due to travel there, here’s everything you need to know to stay safe.
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Sri Lanka travel advice after weather warnings
Thousands of Sri Lankans have been displaced (Picture: Ishara S. KODIKARA / AFP via Getty Images)
The UK Foreign Office updated their travel advice for Sri Lanka as a result of the turbulent weather.
The FCDO has not specifically advised against travel to the country, the website notes: ‘Sri Lanka is currently experiencing severe weather. Heavy rain has caused flooding and landslides which are causing travel disruption across the country.
‘Some flights have been diverted, check with your airline or tour operator if you are due to fly.’
Sri Lanka Cyclone Ditwah: worst affected areas
The Cyclone made landfall on Friday, 28 November, after forming over the Bay of Bengal.
The severe weather the Kelani River to burst its banks. The river runs through the capital, Colombo, as well as surrounding low-lying regions.
The worst affected areas are:
- Gampaha
- Colombo
- Puttalam
- Mannar
- Trincomalee
- Batticaloa
- Kandy
- Badulla
- Matale
According to the UK, over 200 roads and at least 10 bridges remain impassable.
Food insecurity is also set to be a concern, as farmland has been submerged and supply routes affected.
The FCDO also advised British tourists to contact a dedicated helpline: ‘Sri Lanka Tourism has a 24 hour hotline available on 1912.’
A similar advisory notice has been posted on the Sri Lanka Tourism Board’s official website.
The notice reads: ‘Due to the current weather conditions, if you need any assistance or emergency support, our Tourism Hotline is available 24/7.’
It continues: ‘We’re here to help you with guidance, safety, information, and travel support.’
Sri Lanka and its capital Colombo is a popular tourist destination (Picture: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
What is a cyclone?
Cyclones, hurricanes and typhoons are all the same kind of storm: circular storms that form over warm waters, with low air pressure at the centre and winds greater than 74mph.
The scientific name for all of these storms is ‘tropical cyclones’.
They are only called hurricanes if they form in the North Atlantic, the northeastern Pacific, the Caribbean Sea or the Gulf of Mexico.
These storms bring very strong winds and a lot of rain. They form over warm oceans and pick up energy as the warm air picks up water and rises.
If these storms develop in the northwest Pacific, they’re classified as typhoons.
They also have different names if they form down in the Southern Hemisphere: a tropical cyclone for the southern Indian Ocean or the South Pacific and a cyclone in the northern Indian Ocean.
What to do if you’re in an emergency abroad in Sri Lanka
If you need immediate help while on holiday in Sri Lanka, the emergency numbers to call are:
Ambulance: 011 2691111 or 1990
Fire and Rescue: 111
Police: 118/119
Emergency Police Mobile Squad: 011 5717171
Tourist Police: 011 2421052
In the event of a crisis, you can also contact the Foreign Office for support and advice.
Have nearby countries including Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia been affected?
Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia have also experiencing devastating weather due to Cyclone Senyar.
Death tolls vary, but it’s thought more than 1,000 have been killed across the three countries.
The worst hit areas in the countries are:
Areas of Thailand, particular the southern Songkhla province also experienced severe flooding (Picture: Arnun Chonmahatrakool / THAI NEWS PIX / AFP via Getty Images)
- Indonesia: North Sumatra, West Sumatra, Aceh.
- Thailand: Songkhla
- Malaysia: Perlis
The FCDO currently advises against either all, or all but essential, travel to parts of Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia.
However, none of these warnings are due to the severe weather the countries are experiencing. For more information visit the Foreign Office website.
Can I get a refund if I cancel my holiday to Sri Lanka due to the cyclone?
Tourists are unlikely to get their money back (Picture: ISHARA S. KODIKARA/AFP via Getty Images)
If you’ve taken out your travel insurance and want to cancel your holiday due to the weather, you’re unlikely to be entitled to money back.
It’s worth checking either way, but most insurers will only pay out for cancellations if the FCDO advises against anything but essential travel to your destination – and there are currently no such warnings for Sri Lanka.
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Some providers also require the local or national authorities to state it’s unsafe to travel there. If your holiday provider or airline is operating to Sri Lanka as normal and there are no advisories, you won’t get any cancellation cover.
According to gocompare.com, you should look at the ‘cancellation and curtailment’ section of your policy, as this can help with cancelling or cutting a trip short due to extreme weather.
There’s another reason your travel insurance may not cover you, too. If extreme weather was forecast for the area before you booked your holiday and before you took out your insurance policy, you won’t be covered for ‘anticipated’ events.
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Basically, if you knew the weather was going to be bad but booked anyway, you won’t get your refund.
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