The death toll of Cyclone Ditwah exceeded 600, and a total of 2.3 million people were affected, with at least one million people in need of assistance.

The Catholic Church in Sri Lanka is making "a significant contribution to rekindling hope,” said Father Basil Rohan Fernando, National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) in Colombo, in a report by Fides News Agency.

More than 20 percent of the country was affected by the tropical storm, which damaged homes, businesses, roads, bridges, and power grids. 

Government figures show that about 720,000 buildings were destroyed, along with 16,000 kilometers of roads, 278 kilometers of railway tracks, and 480 bridges.

“We were suddenly struck by a new, severe crisis. In addition to the short-term effects, this will also entail medium- to long-term costs, as reconstruction will take time,” the priest said. 

He said Catholic communities across Sri Lanka have taken on a sustained role in responding to both immediate needs and long-term recovery.

“In this situation, the Catholic community in Sri Lanka has become involved and is committed to a single goal: to instill new hope. We have assumed a special responsibility, namely to keep hope alive,” he said.

“This is being done by supporting many people with material and financial, but also spiritual, psychological, and social assistance, as was the case during the Christmas season and continues to be the case today,” the priest added. 

Father Fernando said the government has intensified reconstruction and social assistance efforts, including rebuilding roads, bridges, railway lines, and schools, while supporting affected individuals and families, whose communities are beginning to feel tangible state assistance.

He said social assistance has focused on the most vulnerable, with households that lost homes or livelihoods receiving 5 million rupees in government subsidies.

“Public subsidies have reached families with school-age children so they can purchase new school supplies and resume classes,” he said.

Father Fernando said the government led by Anura Kumara Dissanayake has shown strong commitment to recovery efforts and expressed gratitude for international financial support, including assistance from Caritas organizations, adding that affected communities do not feel abandoned.

Government estimates place the cost of reconstruction at about $7 billion, equivalent to roughly 7 percent of Sri Lanka’s gross domestic product and nearly half of government revenue in 2025. 

The disaster struck as the country was emerging from the 2022 economic collapse linked to a debt crisis, while debt restructuring was underway with support from the International Monetary Fund.