Cyclone Aftermath: 855 Sacred Sites Damaged Across Sri Lanka

 The Ministry of Buddha Sasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs reveals that 855 religious sites across 19 districts of the island have been damaged due to the adverse weather conditions caused by the impact of 'Ditwa' Cyclone. According to data received as of yesterday (10), this information has been confirmed, and ministry reports indicate that among the damaged sites are 415 Buddhist temples, 185 Hindu Kovils, 157 Muslim mosques, and 98 Christian churches.

Considering the district level, the highest number of religious sites damaged overall is from Kandy District, where 93 sites belonging to all religions have been affected. Additionally, 92 religious sites have been reported damaged from Puttalam District and 83 sites from Colombo District. The highest damage to Buddhist temples has occurred in Colombo District, with 66 temples affected, while

57 Buddhist temples in Nuwara Eliya, 51 in Puttalam, and 50 in Kegalle have also been damaged.

Meanwhile, the highest impact on Hindu religious sites has been in Trincomalee District, with 44 sites damaged, while 30 Hindu sites have also been damaged in Batticaloa District. With 47 Muslim mosques damaged in Kandy District, this district reports the highest damage in that religious sector. The highest damage to Christian churches has been reported from Mannar District, with 20 churches affected. The Ministry further states that these statistics may increase in the future as calculations of the damage are still ongoing.