Sri Lanka extends visas free to tourists, says airlines to waive date change fees

Sunday November 30, 2025 6:30 am

ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka will extend visas free to tourists stranded by Cyclone Ditwah, and has also negotiated a waiver of date change fees with airlines, the Indian Ocean island’s Tourism Development Authority said.

Airline flexibility, including “full waiver of flight cancellation and date change fees for tourists compelled to reschedule their flights due to weather disruptions” and ‘”flexible rebooking policies to allow affected passengers to adjust travel dates with minimal hassle.”

The SLTDA said “a passenger’s declaration of being affected by the weather is sufficient to qualify for the waiver.”

The statemen did not mention the specific airlines that agreed to the date change fee waiver.

Tourists could reach the SLTDA hotline at 1912 for any assistance.

“Immediate assistance and care will be provided to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all visitors,” the SLDTA said.

“We urge all tourists and stakeholders to remain alert to current weather conditions and their potential adverse effects, and to strictly follow government guidelines issued at all times.

“Please note that some areas and cities continue to face accessibility challenges due to blocked roads and disrupted transportation.”

Cyclone Ditwah has killed 159 and 203 remained missing as of the evening of November 29. Floods and landslides had hit 833,000 people. (Colombo/Nov30/2025)

Sunday November 30, 2025 7:06 am

ECONOMYNEXT – Japan is sending team to Sri Lanka to assess the Cyclone Ditwah damage along with disaster relief, the Japanese embassy in Colombo said.

“The team, which consists of 4 members including JICA staff and medical personnel, will monitor medical needs on the ground, and coordinate the possible dispatch of a JDR (Japan Disaster Response) team,” the statement said.

“The Government of Japan has also decided to provide emergency relief goods including tents and blankets to the affected people through JICA.

“In light of the humanitarian perspective and the close relationship with the people of Sri Lanka, Japan has decided to provide emergency assistance to those who are affected by the cyclone.”

Cyclone Ditwah has killed 159 and 203 remained missing as of the evening of November 29. Floods and landslides had hit 833,000 people. (Colombo/Nov30/2025)

Saturday November 29, 2025 9:45 pm

ECONOMYNEXT – The death toll in Sri Lanka’s worst natural disaster in eight years has risen to 159 as of 20:00 hours on Saturday, with the authorities still in search of at least 203 missing people across the island nation, the country’s Disaster Management Center (DMC) said.

Officials expect the toll to rise further as relief work is underway with many people are feared buried due to the landslides and earth slips in hilly areas while floods in some coastal districts along the river basins.

Central Sri Lanka district of Badulla and Kandy topped the death toll list with at least 52 people being killed in each district, while Kandy topped the missing people list with 105.

So far nearly 834,000 people from over 234,000 families are hit by the adverse weather conditions in the country.

The government has declared a state of emergency in the country with some of the worst disaster hit areas still not accessible for relief work amid disruption of electricity and telecommunication services.

This has been the worst natural disaster since floods in May 2017, which killed nearly 200 across the country.

Most economic activities, both in state and private sectors, are crippled due to the disaster while flight services also have been delayed, disrupting the country’s one of the top foreign exchange earners, tourism. (Colombo/November 29/2025)

Saturday November 29, 2025 5:38 pm

ECONOMYNEXT – Access to Gampola and Kandy cities in Sri Lanka, which faced the brutal assault from Cyclone Ditwah has been restored and relief workers and the military is attempting restore power and other utilities to the people, Deputy Minister Prasanna Gunasena said.

“Flood levels in Gampola, Geli-Oya, Peradeniya and Gatambe from the overflowing Mahaweli River has now subsided,” Minister Gunasena said in a speech broadcast over Sri Lanka’s Sirasa Television.

“We have opened the road from Peradeniya to Gampola. The supply line of fuel, medicine and food to Kandy has been restored through Kurunegala – Galagedera road.

“We cannot open the Kadugannawa Road which was blocked due to rock falls and landslides. Due to the threat of more rock falls we do not expect to open the road immediately.”

The Kurunegala-Galagedera road had 14 rockfalls and only one lane is currently open, he said. Several teams are working 24 hours to keep the road open as there were occasional rock falls.

Kandy has been without water and electricity for three days.

“Officials have told us that they will be able to restore electricity to Kandy town and most surrounding areas by evening.

“With that we hope telephone towers will be restored and people would be able to charge phones by tomorrow.”

All pumping stations in Kandy were inundated and intakes were blocked with mud. The generator was also damaged.

“There is a shortage of workers so a complement of soldiers are helping restore the water supply,” Gunasena said.

“We hope to restored water supply in three days. In the meantime we will provide water though bowsers. We have made arrangements to supply the hospitals with water through bowsers.

“Because there is a limited supply of bowsers we have hired from the private sector. We ask that if people have water to use sparingly and also try to collect rainwater.”

Fuel tankers are being sent from Kurunegala and Minister Gunasena requested the public not to pump too much fuel.

“Sri Lanka has enough fuel, so we will supply fuel, there will be no shortages, so do not try to stock fuel.”
“Please do travel only for essential tasks like buying goods and going to hospital. Avoid going sight-seeing.”

Students in Peradeniya university hostel was safe and was being provided with food and shops nearby also had stocks, he said.

Towns in the central hills have been badly hit with landslides claiming dozens of lives.
(Colombo/Nov29/2025)

Saturday November 29, 2025 4:59 pm

ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s government has declared a state of emergency as the death toll from Cyclone Ditwah rose to 132, and appealed for international help.

The cyclone brought heavy rains and strong winds causing death and destruction across the island nation, with around 176 reported missing according to the country’s the Disaster Management Centre (DMC).

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake finally invoked emergency laws on Saturday, after previously ignoring opposition calls to do so.

The military is involved in rescue operations throughout the island.

Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya had met the diplomatic corps to ask for help.

India has been the first country to respond with rations and personnel. (Colombo/Nov29/2025)

Saturday November 29, 2025 3:45 pm

ECONOMYNEXT – The death toll from Cyclone Ditwah has climbed to 132 Sri Lanka’s Disaster Management Office said, with and 176 people missing as rescue workers struggled to reach locations in the hill country which were cut off.

The number of missing went up to 176 by 1400 on November 29, with more information coming in.

The Kandy district in the hill country which includes Gampola, has seen 52 people dead and 105 missing.

The Water Supply station in Gatambe in Kandy had been damaged by floods and water supply to the city has been suspended, Sri Lanka’s Sirasa TV said, quoting an official requesting people to conserve water and use them only for drinking and cooking.

Rescue workers are still trying to clear road which are blocked by landslides and rock falls.

Sri Lanka’s Air Force and Navy have been rescuing people.

Waters are now rushing down rivers to coastal areas with Colombo and Gampaha districts getting flooded.

So far 646,567 people have been hit by floods, landslides.

Rains have eased in most parts of the island with the cyclone moving out of the island towards India. (Colombo/Nov29/2025)

Saturday November 29, 2025 2:24 pm

ECONOMYNEXT – SriLankan Airlines has asked pilots and cabin crew to contact the airline as usual communications channels are disrupted due to Cyclone Ditwah.

“We kindly request all pilots and cabin crew to contact the Airline Crew Control Centre (CCC) immediately for further instructions,” the airline said in a statement.

“Your prompt response is greatly appreciated, as it is essential for maintaining continuity of services and ensuring operational readiness.”

The full statement is reproduced below:

SriLankan Airlines Special Announcement for Pilots and Cabin Crew

29 November 2025; Colombo – This is a special announcement for all SriLankan Airlines pilots and cabin crew members. Due to disruptions to communication systems arising from the prevailing situation in the country, the airline is currently unable to reach some crew members through the usual channels.

We kindly request all pilots and cabin crew to contact the Airline Crew Control Centre (CCC) immediately for further instructions. Your prompt response is greatly appreciated, as it is essential for maintaining continuity of services and ensuring operational readiness.