 The storm was the first cyclone over Sri Lanka with winds of at least hurricane strength since a 110 mph (175 km/h) cyclone hit in the 1978 season, as well as the first tropical storm to hit the island since 1992.The storm was also the first December tropical cyclone of hurricane intensity in the Bay of Bengal since 1996.It was reportedly passable on foot until the 15th century, when storms deepened the channel