Bishop Valence Mendis Calls for Continued Solidarity as Sri Lanka Rebuilds After Cyclone Ditwah

As Sri Lanka continues to grapple with the vast destruction caused by Cyclone Ditwah, the Catholic Church has renewed its appeal for compassion, unity, and sustained relief efforts. In a video message released on December 8, Bishop Valence Mendis of Kandy described the scale of the disaster as “enormous,” urging the nation to stand firmly with the affected communities as they begin the long journey toward healing and recovery.

Unprecedented Devastation

“It is almost 12 days since Cyclone Ditwah hit our nation,” Bishop Mendis said, noting that the impact has been “devastating to both the environment and human life.” According to government statistics, some 1.2 million people have been affected.

In the hard-hit central hill region, landslides completely buried several villages. “Still, there are so many areas where bodies remain under the earth,” he said. “Entire villages have been covered, and even now, more bodies are being discovered.”

Road access remains limited in parts of Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, and Matale, where communities suffered the double blow of floods and landslides. “Some roads will take weeks or months to restore,” the bishop added.

A Nation United in Compassion

Despite the suffering, Bishop Mendis highlighted the “unprecedented expression of solidarity” shown by Sri Lankans across all communities.

“How everybody rallied round to support and bring relief, irrespective of religion, caste or creed, has been inspiring,” he said. “We all worked as one in order to give some kind of relief and hope to our people.”

He praised the tireless efforts of clergy and religious who have been working round-the-clock in the worst-affected areas. “All our priests and religious were with the people 24 hours a day, accompanying them and providing basic necessities to the maximum extent possible,” he said.

Churches, Buddhist temples, Hindu temples, and mosques have served as temporary shelters for displaced families. “This tragedy showed once again that religion is like a mother, one who protects and cares,” Bishop Mendis reflected.

Children Most at Risk

Bishop Mendis expressed deep concern for children who have lost parents or homes. “Many children have lost their parents,” he said. “With the school year about to begin, we will have much to do to support these little ones and help them rebuild their lives.”

Moving Toward Reconstruction

While the immediate relief efforts continue, the bishop emphasized that the country must now prepare for the next phase.

“As people start returning to their homes, some of which are completely destroyed, we must begin the second stage: reconstruction,” he said. “This will require the solidarity and collaboration of everyone.”

Bishop Mendis concluded with a prayerful appeal for unity and hope: “Let us pray that our country will be healed from this calamity. May God bless our people, and may God bless Sri Lanka.”