Sri Lanka, Dec. 22 -- The recent floods and landslides caused by the Ditwah disaster have once again underscored Sri Lanka's vulnerability to recurring climate-related emergencies, with plantation communities in the hill country bearing a disproportionately high impact, Democratic People's Front-Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) Vice President Barath Arullsamy said yesterday.

Quoting the latest Disaster Management Centre (DMC) situation report, Arullsamy said the disaster has claimed 643 lives nationwide, with 183 persons reported missing. He added that extensive damage has been caused to housing and infrastructure, resulting in prolonged displacement across several districts.

Although plantation-sector families account for less than one...