A Year After Ditwah, Some Vehicle Insurance Claims Are Still Unpaid — Why?

Cyclone Ditwah hit Sri Lanka in November 2025, and the insurance regulator called it the biggest claims event in the country's history. By mid-2026, insurers had received roughly Rs 57 billion in Ditwah-related claims, but close to Rs 28 billion was still unpaid seven months on. Motor claims actually moved faster than most — about 79% were settled by May — but that still left a good number of vehicle owners waiting months for a payout, while non-motor claims lagged far behind at under half settled. Insurers point to the sheer scale of the disaster, reinsurance paperwork, and assessors needing time to verify genuine flood damage versus pre-existing wear and tear. Policyholders see it differently: you pay premiums every single year for exactly this kind of emergency, and a slow payout means repairs, replacement parts, or a new vehicle get delayed right when you need them most. If your car, van or bike was damaged in Ditwah, how long did the insurer actually take to pay you, and did you have to chase them or go through the regulator to get it settled? ඩිට්වා හානියට ඔබේ වාහන අලාභ හිමිකම තවම ගෙවිලා නැද්ද? ඔබේ අත්දැකීම කියන්න.