Colombo: The Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) Committee convened yesterday as part of the ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Presidential Task Force’s broader efforts. The meeting focused on coordinating the national response to the extensive devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah, aiming to structure a comprehensive recovery plan for the affected regions. The meeting was chaired by the Deputy Minister of Defence, Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd) at his office in Colombo.

According to Ministry of Defence – Sri Lanka, the session reviewed the preliminary findings of the PDNA conducted following the severe weather event that struck Sri Lanka in late November 2025, bringing heavy rainfall, strong winds, and widespread flooding across many districts.

Officials from the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) and other relevant stakeholders presented key observations from the assessment. The PDNA process, carried out under a government-led framework with the support of international development partners, evaluates damages,
economic losses, and recovery needs across multiple sectors.

The preliminary analysis indicated that the cyclone caused impacts across social, productive, and infrastructure sectors including housing, agriculture, health, education, transport, water supply, and commerce. Several districts such as Kandy, Badulla, Nuwara Eliya, and Puttalam were identified among the most affected areas.

During the discussion, the committee reviewed sectorial findings and examined priority areas for recovery and reconstruction. The Deputy Minister emphasized the importance of accurate validation of the assessment findings to ensure that recovery planning is evidence-based and aligned with national disaster resilience strategies.

The PDNA process aims to provide a comprehensive framework to guide medium and long-term recovery efforts while strengthening Sri Lanka’s capacity for disaster-resilient development.

The final PDNA report on the impacts of Cyclone Ditwah is scheduled to be finalized later this month following the com
pletion of the validation process.