The Sri Lanka Association of Meteorologists (SLAM) announced yesterday that it had fulfilled its responsibility regarding Cyclone Ditwah by providing timely warnings to all relevant government institutions ahead of the disaster.
In an official statement, SLAM said that officers representing the Disaster Management Centre (DMC), Irrigation Department, National Building Research Organisation (NBRO), Water Resources Management Board, Fisheries Department, Department of Examinations, Ministry of Health, and the Sri Lanka Ports Authority were all alerted about the developing cyclone.
According to the association, an awareness programme for representatives of these institutions was conducted from November 23 to 27, 2025, to ensure preparedness and coordinated response.
The statement added that senior officials of the Department of Meteorology—including climatologists Malith Fernando and Nimal Bandara, Director Meryl Mendis, and Director General A.K. Karunanayake—played an active role in monitoring the cyclone, updating relevant agencies, and providing information to the public.
SLAM further noted that the circulation of fake information regarding the cyclone in recent days had negatively affected public confidence in the Department of Meteorology.
“The spread of misinformation has caused people to lose trust in the Department,” the statement said, adding that rapid atmospheric changes influenced by the Central Hills’ complex geological system also made accurate forecasting more challenging.
Despite these challenges, the association emphasized that the Department of Meteorology maintained continuous communication with meteorological agencies in neighbouring countries from the onset of the cyclone.