India on Monday announced a USD 450 million reconstruction and assistance package for Sri Lanka to help the island nation recover from the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah, with External Affairs Minister
S Jaishankar saying that India “stands firmly with Sri Lanka more than ever before.”
Jaishankar, who is in Colombo as Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Special Envoy, conveyed the commitment during meetings with Sri Lanka’s top leadership and handed over a letter from the Prime Minister to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
Speaking in Colombo alongside Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath, Jaishankar said the package builds on India’s role as a first responder and reflects New Delhi’s long-standing commitment to its closest neighbour.
“The letter from Prime Minister Modi that I handed over builds on our first responder role and commits a reconstruction package of US dollars 450 million to Sri Lanka,” Jaishankar said, adding that discussions focused on how “expeditiously this commitment can be delivered.”
He said the assistance package comprises USD 350 million in concessional lines of credit and USD 100 million in grants, and is being finalised in close consultation with the Sri Lankan government.
“As your closest neighbour and in line with our Neighbourhood First and Mahasagar policies, it was only natural that India step forward at a time when Sri Lanka faced a crisis,” he said.
Referring to India’s immediate response following the cyclone, Jaishankar highlighted ‘Operation Sagar Bandhu’, which was launched on the very day Cyclone Ditwah made landfall.
“India’s relief and assistance mission, ‘Operation Sagar Bandhu’, commenced on the very day that Cyclone Ditwah made landfall,” he said.
He detailed the scale of India’s assistance, noting that aircraft carrier INS Vikrant and other naval ships delivered relief material, while Indian Air Force helicopters operated in Sri Lanka for over two weeks.
An 80-member National Disaster Response Force contingent conducted rescue and relief operations, and an Indian Army field hospital with 85 medical personnel provided emergency care to thousands.
“Overall, ‘Operation Sagar Bandhu’ delivered over 1,100 tonnes of relief material,” Jaishankar said, including dry rations, tents, tarpaulins, hygiene kits, essential clothing, water purification kits, and medical supplies.
He also underlined India’s role in restoring critical connectivity, describing it as an immediate priority discussed between Prime Minister Modi and the Sri Lankan President.
Army engineers erected a Bailey bridge at Kilinochchi, with another under construction at Chilaw, to help reconnect affected regions.
Outlining the focus areas of the new assistance package, Jaishankar said it would support the rehabilitation of road, railway and bridge connectivity, construction of houses fully destroyed or partially damaged, restoration of health and education systems, support for agriculture, and efforts aimed at better disaster response and preparedness.
“We are conscious that work towards mitigating the impact of Cyclone Ditwah on the people of Sri Lanka must be done in the quickest time possible,” he said, adding that both sides are discussing an effective coordination mechanism for early delivery.
Jaishankar also noted that India would continue to support Sri Lanka in other ways, including encouraging tourism flows and investment.
Acknowledging the difficulties faced by the island nation, he said, “Just as it was recovering from the economic crisis of 2022, this natural disaster has created new difficulties.”
“I can assure you that India stands firmly with Sri Lanka more than ever before,” Jaishankar said, expressing confidence that Sri Lanka would once again demonstrate resilience in overcoming adversity.
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