Cyclone Ditwah and the response in its aftermath exposed persistent gender gaps in disaster response and recovery systems in Sri Lanka. These gaps reflect structural inequalities which are deeply embedded in governance, data systems, and aid delivery mechanisms.
On January 21st 2026, the Women and Media Collective convened a group of civil society activists from women’s organisations working directly with post Ditwah relief and recovery in the districts of Kurunegala, Monaragala, Mannar, Puttalam, Gampaha, Colombo, Kandy, Jaffna and Nuwara Eliya to share their experiences, look critically at the impact and response and propose recommendations.
The experiences and anecdotal evidence shared, from across the districts, demonstrates the gendered disadvantages and discrimination faced by women and marginalised communities in accessing relief and recovery assistance. These are the predictable outcomes of governance structures and processes that are gender blind and continue to discriminate against women, and those at the social and economic margins of society.
Among the myriad concerns raised were those regarding displacement and shelter; relief distribution; water, sanitation and hygiene; reproductive health needs; resettlement and livelihoods; food security and nutrition; privacy, protection and security; access to information; access to marginalised groups such as the disabled, trans persons and sex workers; the lack of gender disaggregated data; and access to decision making and representation.
Women activists across districts demanded a radical shift: from technocratic disaster management to a feminist, rights-based inclusive and just response. They called for transparent and accountable state institutions, redistribution of resources, and the meaningful participation of women and marginalised groups in all stages of disaster governance – from early warning and preparedness to relief and long term recovery and reconstruction.