COLOMBO, June 9 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's cabinet has approved the establishment of an authority to manage upper watershed areas in the country's central highlands after Cyclone Ditwah destroyed 34 percent of its sensitive natural forest areas, the Government Information Department said on Tuesday.
The cyclone triggered landslides and strong winds that damaged ecosystems in seven major river basins, which has raised the risk of soil erosion and the drying up of natural water sources, the department said.
The proposed authority will develop and implement a long-term conservation program for these regions, while improving climate resilience and supporting sustainable development goals, it added.
Cyclone Ditwah killed hundreds of Sri Lankans in late 2025. The direct physical damage caused by the cyclone is estimated at 4.1 billion U.S. dollars, about 4 percent of the country's GDP. ■