India assists in flood relief efforts in Sri Lanka

India began rushing flood relief to Sri Lanka from Saturday. 

In a statement the Indian High Commission said the Indian Government received a request from its Sri Lankan counterpart on the afternoon of 26 May to provide assistance following major flooding and landslides in various parts of the country. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi immediately directed the provision of all necessary assistance. He also expressed condolences over the loss of lives and property and said that India stood with its Sri Lankan brothers and sisters in their hour of need.

Pursuant to the Prime Minister’s directions, INS Kirch was diverted from its deployment and tasked to reach Colombo to provide immediate assistance. The ship, with around 125 personnel on board, arrived at Colombo Port in the morning of 27 May and offloaded relief supplies, inflatable Gemini boats with diving teams and a mobile medical team with supplies. 

High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka Taranjit Sandhu handed over the supplies to Foreign Minister Ravi Karunanayake at the Colombo Port. Indian rescue personnel are now being deployed to the disaster affected zone in coordination with the Sri Lanka Navy and other Sri Lankan authorities.

A second ship, INS Shardul, has left Kochi and is scheduled to arrive at the Colombo Port by midday on 28 May. The ship is carrying additional relief material requested by Sri Lankan authorities, apart from more inflatable boats. 

A third ship, INS Jalashwa, has also set sail from Visakhapatnam to join the relief efforts and is expected to reach Colombo within two days. INS Jalsahwa is an even larger LPD (landing platform/dock) class of ship, which can carry large amounts of relief material and is ideally suited for the conduct of humanitarian assistance or disaster relief missions.

The High Commission of India in Colombo is in close contact with Sri Lankan authorities to coordinate any additional assistance that may be required. 

Second Indian ship INS Shardul arrives at Colombo Port with flood relief

Indian Navy troops offload emergency supplies from the Indian ship Shardul at the harbour in Colombo on 28 May - AFP

Following the devastating floods and landslides in Sri Lanka, the second Indian naval ship dispatched to Sri Lanka to provide assistance to rescue and relief operations arrived at the Colombo Port on Sunday.

The Indian Navy ship INS Shardul reached Colombo on Sunday afternoon with relief materials and specialised teams to assist the ongoing disaster relief efforts for communities affected by the extreme weather in Sri Lanka.

The High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, handed over the relief supplies to Minister of Foreign Affairs Ravi Karunanayake.

INS Shardul, with 27 officers and 100 sailors, carried a medical team of three doctors and six medical assistants, a diving team of 12 divers and several lifesaving teams.

In addition, the ship brought dry rations, bottles of drinking water, tents and medicines.

India dispatched three navy ships to assist the rescue and relief operations launched by the security forces.

The first ship INS Kirch, carrying emergency relief supplies, arrived at the Port of Colombo on Saturday.

INS Kirch, which was patrolling the Bay of Bengal, was diverted to Sri Lanka with essential goods including dry rations, bottles of drinking water, makeshift shelters and medicine. INS Kirch left Colombo Port today after the completion of relief activities.