Around 228,500 people will benefit directly, while a further 700,000 are expected to gain indirect benefits through improved services and strengthened local waste management systems under a new Sri Lanka–Japan recovery initiative supported by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).

The Government of Sri Lanka and the Government of Japan, in partnership with the UNDP, have launched a project aimed at accelerating recovery efforts in communities affected by Cyclone Ditwah.The initiative focuses on disaster waste clearance and the rehabilitation of community facilities using a participatory approach, with the goal of restoring essential services and strengthening long-term resilience in affected regions.

The agreement was signed by Japan’s Ambassador to Sri Lanka Akio ISOMATA and UNDP Resident Representative Azusa KUBOTA, in the presence of Sri Lanka’s Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government A.H.M.H. Abayarathna and senior officials.Following the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah in late November 2025, which affected an estimated 1.7 million people nationwide, the project is seen as a key step in bridging immediate humanitarian assistance with long-term recovery.Under the program, disaster-related waste will be collected and managed using environmentally friendly methods, including electric three-wheelers, while damaged community facilities will be restored to support services such as healthcare, education, childcare, and social welfare.

The initiative also aims to generate livelihood opportunities through community participation, with a focus on inclusive recovery and climate-resilient rebuilding in some of the hardest-hit areas, particularly in the Central Province.