News
Military operations round the clock to rescue and restore lives
View(s):By Dilushi Wijesinghe
As the deadly cyclone Ditwah continued to batter large swathes of the country last week, the tri-forces and police mounted one of the most extensive disaster responses in recent years, with air, naval, and ground teams operating around the clock to reach civilians trapped in rubble and marooned in rising water.
A total of 31,064 tri-force troops were deployed on the ground alone for search-and-rescue and humanitarian support. Despite improvements in several districts, four areas – Meemure, Mandaram Nuwara, Dolosbage and Mathurata still remain unreachable by land. Troops and medical teams have been airlifted into these areas, while dry rations continue to be flown in.
Sri Lanka Air Force personnel carrying out relief operations
In some regions, army soldiers have had to walk 15 to over 20 kilometres through jungles and landslide debris to reach stranded families.
The Army reported that 2,100 military families have been affected by the disaster. One soldier died during operations, while another lost his entire family in Kurunegala. Ten mobile kitchens operated by the forces have now served more than 5,000 people, supplemented by meals from temporary camps.
Beyond rescue work, Army engineering units have begun clearing roads, restoring access and supporting reconstruction using heavy machinery. With the assistance of all three forces, 122 out of 152 damaged water-treatment plants have been restored. At Ambatale, where sluice gates had jammed, Army divers were deployed to manually open them, preventing wider disruption to the Western Province’s water supply.
Intake valves at several islandwide water-board facilities were also cleared, while military technical teams provided support to restore electricity in hard-hit zones. Indian assistance continues, with two temporary bridges expected; Army combat engineers are working with the RDA to identify suitable locations, with more equipment expected to arrive.
The Navy has deployed more than 235 specialised teams across flooded regions, rescuing over 1,400 people from life-threatening situations and evacuating another 11,500 trapped in homes and landslide-prone terrain.
To address the drinking-water crisis, two reverse osmosis plants have been activated in Teldeniya and at the Anuradhapura Prison, while four Navy mobile kitchens are providing hot meals in affected areas. Navy divers continue daily underwater repairs at Ambatale and along the Kelani River to safeguard the Western Province’s water supply.
Tragedy struck in Chalai, where five naval personnel went missing during clearing operations; one body has been recovered and four remain unaccounted for. More than 1,000 naval families have been affected.
By Friday afternoon, the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) had completed nearly 250 air operations, transforming its available fleet into an emergency lifeline. Helicopters, Y-12 transport aircraft, Beechcraft reconnaissance flights, and two MI-17 helicopters provided by the Indian Air Force carried medical supplies, sanitary items, cooked food, dry rations, and other essential goods into isolated areas.
SLAF crews evacuated 601 people, including infants, pregnant mothers, patients, and several foreign nationals, from locations ranging from Mavil Aru and Polonnaruwa to Walapane, Gampaha, and Muttur.
More than 135.7 tonnes of emergency relief have been airlifted so far, while 2,226 Air Force personnel on the ground have rescued a further 1,949 individuals. Two mobile hospitals from India, operating in Ja-Ela, Seeduwa, and Negombo with the support of 30 SLAF medical staff, continue to treat displaced families. About 600 Air Force families have also been directly affected.
The best way to say that you found the home of your dreams is by finding it on Hitad.lk. We have listings for apartments for sale or rent in Sri Lanka, no matter what locale you're looking for! Whether you live in Colombo, Galle, Kandy, Matara, Jaffna and more - we've got them all!