Religious organisations were among the first responders in Sri Lanka after a catastrophic cyclone tore through the island nation, killing at least 355 people and leaving 366 others missing. Source: Common Home TV.
The Redemptorists, a Catholic congregation active in Sri Lanka, have thrown themselves into relief work following the cyclone, despite suffering damage to their own facilities.
Cyclone Ditwa has affected nearly one million people across all of Sir Lanka’s 25 districts, forcing tens of thousands from their homes as floodwaters submerged entire communities and landslides buried villages.
More than 270,000 families have been displaced, with many seeking refuge in government shelters or clinging to what remains of their damaged properties.
The scale of the physical destruction is staggering. More than 15,000 homes have been completely destroyed, while more than 200 roads remain blocked by debris and floodwater. At least 10 bridges have sustained serious damage, severing crucial transport links and hampering relief efforts in remote areas.
The Redemptorists’ mother house in Kandy was left partially inaccessible after the approach road cracked and buckled, while several Redemptorists found themselves stranded in Colombo when the main Kandy-Colombo highway was rendered impassable.
One parish under the care of the Redemptorists, St. Theresa’s in Colombo, has collected material aid worth over Rs 3 million ($A14,822) to be distributed among the displaced families.
The Redemptorists have also been visiting victims whose homes were completely submerged by the floods, providing them with much-needed support.
For the congregation, the response is not just logistical but deeply tied to its identity.
“As Catholics, we are called to work for the common good of society,” Fr Sanath Fernando CSsR said.
“As Redemptorists, that call is even more deeply rooted in our charism: we stand with those affected by structural injustice, those pushed to the margins, those whose lives are most vulnerable.
“In this moment, we are called to be close to the people who lack the most and who are in greatest need. We will continue to stand with them, pastorally and practically, with our presence and with our financial support.”
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Cyclone ‘Ditwa’ Leaves Trail of Destruction in Sri Lanka (Common Home TV)
