UNDP Urges Concessional Aid as Sri Lanka Faces Disaster Debt
- CNL Reporter
- December 11, 2025
- News, Political
- Sri Lanka, UNDP
- 0 Comments
The UNDP has called for urgent concessional financing for Sri Lanka, warning that the country cannot take on additional debt to recover from Cyclone Ditwah, which flooded 1.1 million hectares and exposed 2.3 million people. UNDP Resident Representative Azusa Kubota said Sri Lanka’s recovery is at risk unless international partners provide affordable support mechanisms.
The agency’s analysis shows severe impacts in Puttalam, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, and the central highlands, where pre-existing vulnerabilities intensify recovery challenges.
Nearly 720,000 buildings, 16,000 km of roads, and 530,000 hectares of paddy land were affected, raising serious concerns over food security and essential services. UNDP officials stressed the need for rapid debris clearance, support for MSMEs, and restoration of critical infrastructure.
With millions facing prolonged hardship, UNDP warned that Sri Lanka’s recovery will stall unless global partners step in with non-debt instruments and concessional aid.
