Sri Lanka’s Minister of Environment, Dammika Patabendi, has instructed officials to swiftly repair elephant fences damaged by Cyclone Ditwah within a week. The directive came during a progress review meeting held to address the severe impact on fences caused by the recent cyclone. The Ministry highlighted extensive damage in areas affected by the Human Elephant Conflict (HEC).
The Human Elephant Conflict is a significant issue in certain regions of Sri Lanka, with official records showing 438 elephant deaths and 158 human fatalities in 2025. In response to the cyclone’s aftermath, Sri Lanka initiated a large-scale housing reconstruction and compensation program for affected families. The initiative, part of the government’s “Rebuilding Sri Lanka” project, commenced in Anuradhapura and Kurunegala districts, focusing on areas like Galnewa, Rajanganaya, Nikaweratiya, and Rideegama.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, speaking at the launch event, revealed that an estimated 20,000 to 25,000 houses nationwide require rebuilding. Of these, around 6,000 homes were completely destroyed, while 17,000 to 18,000 suffered partial damage or are situated in unsafe zones. The government plans to finalize a comprehensive damage assessment in the coming weeks. Additionally, the reconstruction efforts will align with existing national housing programs funded through the 2026 budget, aiming to construct 31,000 houses for low-income families, conflict-displaced communities, and estate-sector workers, with support from India for hill-country housing projects.
The Sri Lankan economy faced a substantial $4.1 billion loss due to Cyclone Ditwah’s impact.
