Wednesday Dec 24, 2025
Wednesday Dec 24, 2025
Wednesday, 24 December 2025 04:15 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
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Visiting Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar addresses a joint press conference at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday
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India has committed a comprehensive reconstruction assistance package worth $ 450 million to support Sri Lanka’s recovery from the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah, reaffirming its role as the country’s first responder and closest regional partner.
Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, who is visiting Colombo as the special envoy of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, yesterday said the pledge was formally conveyed to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake during a meeting on Tuesday morning.
In a joint press briefing held at the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Jaishankar said he handed over a letter from Prime Minister Modi that underscored India’s “first responder” role and committed New Delhi to stand with Sri Lanka through the reconstruction phase.
“Our talks centred on how expeditiously this commitment can be delivered,” Dr. Jaishankar said, noting that India’s response was guided by its “Neighbourhood First” and “Mahasagar” policies.
He said Prime Minister Modi had directed Indian authorities to work closely with the Sri Lankan Government to address priority needs.
“The proposed $ 450 million package will comprise $ 350 million in concessional lines of credit and $ 100 million in grants, and is being finalised in close consultation with the Government of Sri Lanka,” he added.
He said the assistance will focus on sectors worst affected by the cyclone, including the rehabilitation and restoration of road, railway and bridge connectivity, support for the reconstruction of fully destroyed and partially damaged houses, restoration of health and education facilities, assistance to agriculture to address short- and medium-term shortages, and strengthening disaster response and preparedness mechanisms.
“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,” Dr. Jaishankar said, adding that both sides are discussing an effective coordination mechanism to ensure the earliest possible delivery of assistance.
He also stressed that India had stepped forward not only because of geographic proximity, but also because of its broader approach to cooperative disaster response, which it has consistently advocated at the regional and global level.
Dr. Jaishankar said India’s relief and assistance mission, Operation Sagar Bandu, began on the very day Cyclone Ditwah made landfall. Indian naval assets, including aircraft carrier INS Vikrant and warship INS Udegiri, were deployed to Colombo to deliver relief material, while helicopters were used for rescue and logistics operations.
He said Indian Air Force Mi-17 helicopters operated in Sri Lanka for more than two weeks, supporting relief and evacuation efforts.
An Indian National Disaster Response Force contingent arrived simultaneously to conduct search, rescue and relief work, while the Indian Army established a field hospital near Kandy with 85 medical personnel, providing emergency treatment to more than 8,000 people. Two mobile “Bishma” emergency medical units were also airlifted and deployed.
Dr. Jaishankar said restoring connectivity was identified as an immediate priority, recalling that this was discussed directly between President Dissanayake and Prime Minister Modi during a telephone conversation soon after the disaster.
As part of those efforts, Indian Army engineers erected a Bailey Bridge at Kilinochchi, transported by C-17 aircraft, and construction of another Bailey Bridge at Chilaw is currently under way.
“In total, Operation Sagar Bandu delivered over 1,100 tons of relief supplies, including dry rations, tents, tarpaulins, hygiene kits, essential clothing and water purification equipment. India also supplied about 14.5 tons of medicines and medical equipment, along with a further 60 tons of specialised equipment to support relief operations,” he added.
Beyond immediate reconstruction, Dr. Jaishankar said India would continue to support Sri Lanka’s broader economic recovery.
He assured continued encouragement of tourism flows from India and said increased Indian foreign direct investment (FDIs) could provide an additional boost at a critical juncture. “These discussions would be framed within the objective of promoting a deeper and more resilient cooperative relationship between the two countries,” he added.
Acknowledging that the cyclone struck just as Sri Lanka was emerging from the 2022 economic crisis, Dr. Jaishankar said India fully recognised the scale of the challenge.
“We have seen in the past the strong resolve and strength among the people of Sri Lanka to overcome challenges and march ahead,” he said, adding that India stands “firmly with Sri Lanka, now more than ever”, and expressing confidence that the country would once again demonstrate its resilience in recovering from adversity.
