Cyclonic Ditwah, Nov. 29 -- Sri Lanka's President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Saturday declared a state of emergency to tackle disaster relief operations as Cyclone Ditwah exited the country, leaving 132 dead.

Dissanayake invoked emergency laws, which grants him sweeping powers to deal with the devastation.

The cyclone has caused massive destruction and damage to infrastructure. The extreme weather system has destroyed nearly 15,000 homes across the country.

"We noticed Ditwah exiting Sri Lanka and heading towards the Indian coast. However, its indirect impact with heavy rains and high speed winds will remain for some time," Athula Karunanayake, director general of the meteorology department, told reporters.

"I, Anura Kumara Dissanaya...