COLOMBO, Sri Lanka -- Special Agent Danitha Amarawardana recognized the names of the places hit hardest by the landslides following Cyclone Ditwah, some of his relatives still live there.
As floods tore across Sri Lanka last month, leaving hundreds dead and whole communities displaced, Amarawardana came to the country to support the U.S. response to the disaster, motivated by his long-standing connection to Sri Lanka. His family ties and cultural familiarity helped him navigate coordination during a critical moment.
“Even introducing myself in the language makes a difference,” he said. “It creates an immediate connection.”
According to Pacific Air Forces officials, U.S. military response came at the request of the government of Sri Lanka, with American forces working alongside the Sri Lankan Disaster Management Center and Sri Lankan Armed Forces to provide foreign disaster response following the disaster.
Sri Lankan officials say more than 640 people were killed and, as of Dec. 19, over 183 remain missing, with direct physical damage to buildings, agriculture and critical infrastructure estimated at $4.1billion, according to a report from the World Bank. The flooding and landslides rank among the country’s worst disasters in decades.
Assigned to the 13th Field Investigations Squadron’s OL-B detachment in Singapore, Amarawardana grew up speaking Sinhala at home with his parents in Washington, D.C., a skill that proved useful during the response. But his connection to Sri Lanka runs deeper than communication alone.
“I used to come here every year with my family,” he said. “I still have a lot of extended family here. Being back in a place I recognize, especially under these circumstances, has meant a lot.”
Cyclone Ditwah struck Sri Lanka on Nov. 27 with strong winds and extreme rainfall, triggering widespread flooding and landslides across the island.
According to Sri Lanka’s Disaster Management Center, more than 2 million people were affected, including over 600,000 families displaced from their homes.
“Most of the damage wasn’t in the big cities,” Amarawardana said. “It was in rural areas, where access is harder and recovery takes longer.”
On Dec. 7, two C-130J Super Hercules aircraft and Airmen from the U.S. Air Force’s 36th Contingency Response Group arrived at Katunayake Air Base, near Sri Lanka’s Bandaranaike International Airport, to work with the Sri Lanka air force moving food, water, shelter materials and other critical supplies to areas identified by disaster officials.
Officials said the speed of the response was enabled by U.S. Indo-Pacific Command’s forward presence in the region, allowing for rapid coordination and swift delivery of assistance to affected areas.
“When roads are strained or completely cut off, airlift becomes critical,” Amarawardana said. “It’s often the only way to reach people who need help quickly.”
While aircrews focused on transporting aid, Amarawardana worked behind the scenes, helping ensure U.S. personnel could operate safely and effectively. He coordinated closely with U.S. Embassy staff, Sri Lankan police and military counterparts on security, transportation, lodging and daily logistics.
Meanwhile, the larger mission required close coordination among the Sri Lankan Disaster Management Center, the Sri Lankan Armed Forces, the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Embassy personnel, alongside U.S. military units supporting the response effort.
“Everyone has been focused on making sure people are safe and operations run smoothly,” he said. “From working with police to coordinating with the air force, it’s been a team effort.”
What set Amarawardana apart was familiarity.
He speaks Sinhala conversationally and understands the cultural nuances that shape interactions in Sri Lanka. Introducing himself in the language and pronouncing his name the local way, he said, helped establish trust quickly with host-nation counterparts.
“Even the small things make a difference,” he said. “There’s an immediate sense of familiarity, and that goes a long way.”
During early coordination meetings, Amarawardana recalled officials briefing U.S. personnel on hundreds of fatalities and missing persons, numbers that continued to climb as search and recovery efforts expanded.
As Sri Lanka begins what he said will be a long recovery, Amarawardana reflected on the rare convergence of professional duty and personal history.
“Being able to support people here,” he said, “especially in a place that’s part of my family’s story, has been incredibly meaningful.”