Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Sri Lanka was severely battered by rain and flooding due to a devastating cyclone during the last week of November and first days of December.
Cyclone Ditwah tore through the island, killing over -00 people. While the cyclone brought severe yet highly localized impacts to parts of the country on November 28, all major tourism hubs continues to welcome visitors without disruption. Most affected people were the ones living along coastal areas in the Northeastern part of the country.
However, Sri Lanka’s major coastal destinations including the west and south coasts and most of the east were not impacted by the cyclone and continue to experience strong visitor activity.
According to the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority, the situation on December 6, 2025 was almost back to normal, despite uncertainty about a return of rain over the next few days. Updates about the situation are posted under https://www.srilanka.travel/situation_update/.
“Infrastructure for tourism suffered very few damage. There was a bit of flooding at some hotels but most of them have not been affected. While most large roads, rail lines and the airport are open. The island remains open, safe and is operational for tourists. The government really made a good job at preventing and working to restore infrastructure and utilities such as electricity,” describes Dinushka Chandrasena, chief editor and owner of the local travel publication Travel Talk Asia.
Rapid recovery
All key national parks remain open, including Yala (Blocks 1, 5 & 6), Udawalawe, Bundala, Kumana, and Horton Plains. Cultural Triangle landmarks Sigiriya, Dambulla, Polonnaruwa, and Anuradhapura are fully accessible.
As Sri Lanka continues its recovery with speed and unity, travelers are encouraged not to rush into cancellations. The tourism sector remains committed to providing factual, transparent updates, enabling visitors to make informed decisions. “The Hotels Association of Sri Lanka reported few cancellations so far. And most of them are rebooking,” adds Chandrasena.
Sri Lanka tourism authorities asked airlines to waive rebooking fees following cancellation. The government also waved fees for visa’s overstaying as a guarantee for travelers.
The country now still hopes to reach 2.6 million foreign travelers by the end of the year, its best result since the COVID-19 pandemic. A growth driven by visitors from India, Russia, Germany, France, and the UK. From January to October 2025, France (+23.1%) and the Netherlands (+29.9%) stand out as particularly dynamic markets. Over a third of all arrivals to Sri Lanka came from Europe during the first ten months of 2025.
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