Sri Lanka, Dec. 24 -- Cyclone Ditwah, which struck Sri Lanka in late November, has caused an estimated US$4.1 billion in direct physical damage to buildings and contents, agriculture and critical infrastructure, according to a World Bank Group report released on Monday. This damage is equivalent to about 4 percent of Sri Lanka's GDP.

The cyclone, among the most intense and destructive in Sri Lanka's recent history, severely affected close to 2 million people and 500,000 families across all 25 districts, disrupting livelihoods, essential services, and the broader economy. The report provides timely and critical insights to guide the emergency response, recovery planning, and longer-term disaster risk reduction efforts. The assessment uses...