Sri Lanka (MNN) — After making landfall in Sri Lanka on Friday, Cyclone Ditwah’s torrential rains turned into floodwaters and landslides. The storm took many by surprise. At least 366 people lost their lives, and more than 350 remain missing as of Monday.
But it didn’t have to happen this way. Pastor Adrian with A3 says flooding is common in Sri Lanka, which tempts some people not to take flood warnings seriously. That kept many from warning others and taking proper precautions for the cyclone.
Cyclone Ditwah on 27 November, 2025. (Photo by VIIRS image from NOAA’s NOAA-21 Satellite – NOAA View Global Data Explorer, Public Domain)
“In certain areas, the rainfall was about 400 milliliters of water within a single day,” Adrian said. “One of our churches went down completely underwater. And [that] church is situated about 50 feet above the river level. We had never heard of a flooding of this nature before.”
Adrian serves as A3’s country director for Sri Lanka. He says that for churches in some regions, “I’m unable to contact them by phone or travel to these places because of the landslides. The bridges have been washed away. I don’t think even the government is aware of the scope of the damage that has happened due to the cyclone.”
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs estimates that 1.1 million Sri Lankans were affected by the cyclone and that over 15,000 houses were destroyed.
Local Christians are working to provide immediate needs — like food, potable water, clothing and shelter. Then will come the long work of rebuilding homes, says Adrian.
“It’s a huge concern, because our country and our churches don’t have that kind of infrastructure,” he says.
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Pray for God to bring eternal good from the devastation across Sri Lanka. Pray for hope to be found in Christ.
Weligama, Sri Lanka (Photo courtesy of Devin Woody via Unsplash)
“We are also getting ready to carry out a strong prayer ministry, moving to every district, gathering the believers, praying, because I believe that this devastation has also brought about receptivity in the hearts of people,” says Adrian.
He says they are also looking to establish medical camps, because waterborne diseases will arise.
“We are inviting people to contact us and send us teams of doctors and nurses who could come and serve,” he says. “We are also asking churches to stand with us financially, because we will have to provide [much]. It’s almost with some people starting life all over again.”
Learn how you can partner with A3 to help local Christians bring relief and true hope to Sri Lanka.
Header photo from Galle, Sri Lanka is a representative stock image courtesy of Fredrik Öhlander via Unsplash.
