Dialog Axiata PLC has completed the rapid restoration of its network following Cyclone Ditwah, bringing all 6,000 sites back online and supporting over 8 million customers nationwide.
The severe weather, which caused widespread flooding and landslides, disrupted 2,200 of Dialog’s sites. In response, the company mobilised its engineering and field teams to restore connectivity under challenging conditions, supported by the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission, Tri-Forces, Sri Lanka Police, and government agencies.
Group Chief Technology Officer Ranga Kariyawasam highlighted the scale of the operation:
“These conditions were unprecedented. Our teams worked around the clock to restore services, marking one of the fastest recovery efforts in recent years. This was made possible through the dedication of our staff and the invaluable cooperation of authorities.”
During the outage, Dialog provided emergency support to customers across its services:
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Mobile: 6 million users received 1.4 billion free voice minutes, 1.4 billion SMS, and over 4.5 million GB of data.
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Home Broadband: Nearly 1 million users were given over 10 million GB of emergency data.
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Dialog Television: 1.6 million customers accessed 39 channels free of charge.
Dialog also assisted national emergency operations by activating early warning systems, disseminating over 40 million alerts, and providing satellite connectivity and Wi-Fi to the Sri Lanka Air Force, Army, and Disaster Management Centre. Humanitarian relief efforts reached over 400,000 families, while employees, retailers, and distributors affected by the disaster received targeted support.
Looking forward, Dialog will invest USD 250 million over three years to add approximately 800 new sites, strengthen climate-resilient infrastructure, enhance redundancy and backup power, and expand alternative connectivity solutions.
Group CEO Supun Weerasinghe emphasised Dialog’s long-term commitment:
“We sincerely apologise to customers for the disruption and reaffirm our commitment to a more resilient network. Our goal is to ensure dependable connectivity for every Sri Lankan and to support the country’s recovery and digital development.”
With its network fully operational, Dialog continues to play a critical role in Sri Lanka’s rebuilding efforts, supporting national resilience and the country’s long-term digital future.