833,000 Affected, Death Toll Rises to 159 In Sri Lanka's Worst Floods In Decades

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka is facing one of its worst flood disasters in recent history. According to the latest Disaster Management Center (DMC) situation report, as of November 29, 2025, 6:00 p.m., the floods have affected 234,503 families—a staggering 833,985 people across 25 districts.

The death toll has climbed to 159, with 203 people reported missing.

Authorities have set up 919 safety centers, sheltering 34,198 families (over 122,822 individuals), but thousands remain stranded in submerged areas.

Worst-hit districts include:

Gampaha: 51,701 families (197,144 people)

Puttalam: 36,098 families (135,922 people)

Colombo: 25,159 families (99,668 people)

Mannar: 24,313 families (79,946 people)

Batticaloa: 16,257 families (47,856 people)

Other severely impacted regions include Badulla, Kandy, Rathnapura, and Jaffna, with dozens of fatalities reported in the hill country due to landslides and flash floods.

The DMC warns that Kelani River and Attanagalu Oya remain at major flood levels, while several reservoirs—including Deduru Oya—continue to release water, worsening downstream flooding.

Authorities urge residents in low-lying and high-risk areas to evacuate immediately, avoid unnecessary travel, and stay tuned to official alerts. Emergency teams are on standby, but the scale of the disaster poses immense challenges.