Cyclone Ditwah: flight disruptions and visa relief for stranded tourists
17 SriLankan Airlines flights cancelled; immigration waives visa fees for those unable to leave on time.
Cyclone Ditwah made landfall on Sri Lanka's eastern coast on 28 November 2025, causing widespread flight cancellations, delays, and diversions. SriLankan Airlines alone cancelled 17 departures, leaving many travellers stranded and facing uncertainty about their onward journeys and visa obligations.
In response, the Department of Immigration and Emigration announced important relief: visa-extension fees and overstay penalties were waived for tourists unable to leave as scheduled due to the cyclone. This meant stranded travellers could stay without incurring extra costs or legal complications while waiting for flights to resume.
If you're travelling during monsoon season or cyclone-prone months (October–November for the northeast monsoon), monitor official weather warnings and keep your travel plans flexible. Travel insurance that covers weather-related disruptions is also wise—it can cover rebooking fees and accommodation extensions when nature intervenes.
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