Pakistan, Dec. 5 -- Cyclone Ditwah has severely affected Sri Lanka's peak tourism season, which runs from November to January, killing nearly 500 people and damaging homes, roads, and key infrastructure across the island.

Small operators like Herath Gedara Rohan Anil Kumara, who ran a three-bedroom homestay in Sri Lanka's hill country, have been forced to cancel all bookings, losing vital income that supported their families.

The disaster has hit nearly 10% of Sri Lanka's 22 million population, destroying thousands of houses, damaging power lines, roads, and telecom networks, while agriculture losses further strain the economy already recovering from a 2022 crisis.

Despite the destruction, the Hotels Association of Sri Lanka reported l...