A Field Visit to Sri Lanka Following Cyclone Ditwah – Guest Reflection by Priyani Singanayagam

After raising funds to support flood relief efforts in Sri Lanka following Cyclone Ditwah, I completed a short up-country field visit with the Founding Chairman of Vanni Hope Mr Ranjan, and the Upcountry Coordinator Mr Guna, from 13 to 16 January 2026.

I was eager to see the charity’s work on the ground, and the team were very accommodating in facilitating this visit. I really appreciated their timely communication and transparency throughout.

Visiting Flood-Affected Line Houses in Udapussellawa

During the trip, we visited some line houses, (also known as layams – traditional housing provided to plantation workers) in Udapussellawa that had been affected by the floods. Living conditions were extremely poor and had been further worsened by the impact of Cyclone Ditwah.

I spoke with the Vanni Hope team about the possibility of renovating some of these houses, but we had to acknowledge the difficulty of selecting and supporting individual households when so many families are living in the same circumstances, and not wanting to double up with government support.

The Importance of Supporting Estate Schools

This highlighted to me the importance of supporting estate schools. By investing in education, children are given the opportunity to leave the estates and pursue work elsewhere. With limited resources, focusing on education can create a far wider and more sustainable impact, helping communities to support themselves rather than relying on isolated, short-term assistance.

I was really pleased to see that this was something the Vanni Hope team had already carefully considered.

We therefore visited a number of estate schools where Vanni Hope has supported education in different ways, ranging from the provision of basic needs such as water wells and taps to the implementation of learning resources such as smart boards and modern maths classrooms.

I was saddened to learn that, although estate schools are government-funded, they are often neglected and lack access to basic facilities. As a result, it was powerful to see the work that Vanni Hope has been doing to support these schools across the hill country, and reassuring to witness how these interventions excited the children and encouraged engagement and participation. It was also clear how respected the Vanni Hope team is within the communities they support.

A School Severely Impacted by the Cyclone

We visited one particular estate school that had been badly impacted by the cyclone. Multiple buildings are no longer safe to use due to cracks and structural damage, meaning the school’s 362 students are now sharing one small permanent building and a temporary structure.

The school must request new land from private estate owners in order to rebuild, a process that requires government funding and takes time. Even once land is secured, rebuilding will be a lengthy process. In the meantime, the school is doing the best it can in extremely difficult circumstances to support its students.

Visiting a Girls’ Home

We also spent a morning visiting the Malayaga Siruvar Illam Girls’ Home in Badulla, supported by Vanni Hope, where the girls performed a beautiful Pongal ceremony for us. They were polite and thoughtful, and we were very grateful for the care and effort they put into welcoming us.

We also heard about how Cyclone Ditwah affected the home. The ground floor was flooded, and the girls had to wait upstairs before evacuating via a ladder. While the floodwaters thankfully cleared within a couple of hours, they still caused significant damage.

In the spirit of Pongal, one small glimmer of hope stood out. The ground-floor prayer room remained intact, despite much of the rest of the floor being affected.

Reflections on Charity Work and Inclusion

It was a deeply emotional and eye-opening trip that I will never forget. I have learned so much, not only about the impact of Cyclone Ditwah but also about the broader systemic challenges that Sri Lanka continues to face.

Through my conversations with the Chairman and throughout the trip, I also came to understand how difficult charity work can be. Unfortunately, it is not possible to help everyone or meet every need, but that does not make the work any less important.

I was also really pleased to learn through this experience that Vanni Hope works across the country, supporting communities of all religions and backgrounds. A truly united Sri Lanka requires recognising that every community has marginalised and vulnerable groups. It was therefore reassuring to see support being delivered in such an inclusive way.

I feel extremely proud to be supporting Vanni Hope and intend to continue helping them moving forward, to give back to our lovely little island.