Cyclone Ditwa struck Sri Lanka in November 2025, triggering devastating floods and landslides. The disaster claimed 646 lives, with 174 people still missing. As of January 9, 2026, the Disaster Management Center reports that 19,299 residents from over 6,000 households remain displaced in evacuation centers.

On December 26, 2025, A-PAD Sri Lanka held a handover ceremony to formally receive a donation from the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Sri Lanka. At the ceremony, Hirotaka Oi, Director of the JETRO Colombo Office, visited the A-PAD Sri Lanka Office on behalf of the chamber of commerce.

Director Oi shared that while Japanese companies in the region were able to minimize damage from the cyclone, some employees suffered personal losses. The participants also discussed the importance of tracking and visualizing the locations of Japanese firms and their personnel in order to enable more targeted support and strengthen disaster prevention and mitigation preparedness.

A-PAD Sri Lanka is actively conducting relief operations nationwide, with a strategic focus on the hardest-hit districts of Puttalam and Kandy. By prioritizing vulnerable communities that have previously lacked sufficient aid, A-PAD ensures that no one is left behind in the recovery process. Activities include distributing school supplies to help schools reopen and water purifiers in areas with limited access to safe drinking water.

The generous donation from the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Sri Lanka is earmarked for reconstruction and educational support. This funding allows A-PAD to move beyond emergency aid toward sustainable recovery.

In collaboration with local partners and international stakeholders, A-PAD Sri Lanka remains committed to rebuilding resilient communities and ensuring a steady path toward reconstruction.

About the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Sri Lanka 

A-PAD Sri Lanka joined the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Sri Lanka in January 2024. When floods occurred in May 2016, the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Sri Lanka also donated relief funds to A-PAD Sri Lanka.

A-PAD Sri Lanka’s cyclone relief efforts are made possible by generous donations from individual and group donors. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to all those who have supported us.

How You Can Help

By Credit Card/Bank Transfer

https://apadm.org/donate/

READYFOR Crowdfunding

https://readyfor.jp/projects/SriLanka-cyclone2025

Yahoo! Donation

https://donation.yahoo.co.jp/detail/5144012