India on Tuesday announced a USD 450 million reconstruction assistance package for Sri Lanka in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah, reaffirming its role as a first responder and close neighbour under its Neighbourhood First and MAHASAGAR policies.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, who is in Colombo as the Special Envoy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, conveyed the assistance during his meetings with Sri Lankan President Anura Kumar Dissanayake and Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath. The assistance was formalised through a letter from Prime Minister Modi, which builds on India’s First Responder role and commits a reconstruction package of USD 450 million to Sri Lanka. The package includes 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.
Addressing the media after the meeting, Jaishankar said the assistance builds on India’s immediate relief efforts under Operation Sagar Bandhu, which was launched on the day Cyclone Ditwah made landfall. He said India’s response reflected its long-standing commitment to cooperative disaster response in the region.
As part of the relief mission, Indian naval assets including INS Vikrant and INS Udayagiri delivered humanitarian supplies to Colombo, while Mi-17 helicopters of the Indian Air Force conducted aerial relief operations for over two weeks. An 80-member National Disaster Response Force team was deployed for rescue operations, and the Indian Army established a field hospital near Kandy that provided emergency medical care to over 8,000 people. Two modular BHISHM emergency care units were also airlifted to Sri Lanka.
Restoration of connectivity was identified as an immediate priority following the cyclone. Indian Army engineers constructed a Bailey bridge at Killinochchi using equipment transported by C-17 aircraft, while work on another Bailey bridge at Chilaw is currently underway. Overall, India delivered more than 1,100 tonnes of relief material, including food supplies, tents, tarpaulins, hygiene kits, clothing and water purification equipment, along with 14.5 tonnes of medicines and medical equipment.
The proposed reconstruction assistance will focus on rehabilitation of road, rail and bridge infrastructure, construction of houses damaged or destroyed by the cyclone, restoration of health and education facilities, support to the agriculture sector, and strengthening disaster preparedness and response mechanisms.
Jaishankar said India is engaging with Sri Lankan authorities to ensure the fastest possible delivery of assistance through an effective coordination mechanism. He also noted that India would continue to support Sri Lanka through increased tourism flows and enhanced foreign direct investment to aid economic recovery.
Reiterating India’s solidarity, the External Affairs Minister said the country stands firmly with Sri Lanka during this challenging period, expressing confidence in the resilience of the Sri Lankan people to overcome the impact of the disaster.
