India has announced a USD 450 million reconstruction assistance package for Sri Lanka following the widespread damage caused by Cyclone Ditwah, Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said on 23 December during talks with Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath in Colombo.
Jaishankar, who is in Sri Lanka as the Special Envoy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said he conveyed a message from the Indian Prime Minister to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, whom he met earlier in the day. The discussions focused on the extent of damage caused by the cyclone and the urgent need for reconstruction.
He said the assistance package would comprise 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. The proposed support will prioritise sectors worst affected by the disaster, including the restoration of road, railway and bridge connectivity, housing reconstruction, health and education infrastructure, agriculture, and strengthening disaster preparedness and response mechanisms.
Highlighting India’s role as Sri Lanka’s closest neighbour, Jaishankar said New Delhi had stepped forward in line with its Neighbourhood First and MAHASAGAR policies, as it had done during Sri Lanka’s recent economic crisis. He noted that India had also been a strong advocate of cooperative disaster response initiatives, including the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure.
Jaishankar outlined the scale of India’s relief effort under ‘Operation Sagar Bandhu’, which began on the day Cyclone Ditwah made landfall. He said Indian naval vessels, including INS Vikrant and INS Udayagiri, delivered relief supplies to Colombo, while helicopters and Indian Air Force Mi-17 aircraft conducted operations across affected areas for more than two weeks. An 80-member National Disaster Response Force team carried out rescue and relief work, while an Indian Army field hospital near Kandy provided emergency medical care to more than 8,000 people.
India also restored critical connectivity by deploying army engineers to erect a Bailey bridge at Kilinochchi, with another bridge currently under construction in Chilaw. Overall, the operation delivered more than 1,100 tonnes of relief material, including dry rations, tents, hygiene kits, water purification equipment, and essential clothing, along with nearly 15 tonnes of medicines and medical equipment.
Emphasising the urgency of rebuilding, Jaishankar said India and Sri Lanka were discussing an effective coordination mechanism to ensure the swift delivery of assistance. He also said India would continue to support Sri Lanka by encouraging tourism from India and promoting increased Indian foreign direct investment to help boost the island’s economy.
Acknowledging the challenges facing Sri Lanka as it recovers from both the 2022 economic crisis and the recent natural disaster, Jaishankar said India stood firmly with Sri Lanka and was confident the country would once again demonstrate resilience in overcoming adversity.
