India will provide a relief package of US$450 million for the reconstruction of areas affected by Cyclone Ditwah, Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar announced today.
Explaining the facility, Dr. Jaishankar, who arrived in Sri Lanka as a special representative of the Indian Prime Minister, said the package includes a concessional loan of US$350 million and a grant of US$100 million.
The announcement was made at a joint press conference with Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath, following bilateral discussions with the President.
India, which was the first country to extend assistance after Cyclone Ditwah struck, launched Operation Sagarbandhu on November 28. Recalling India’s intervention, Dr. Jaishankar highlighted the health services provided to nearly 8,000 people by Indian medical teams and the contribution of Indian military engineering teams to modernising the bridge system. He confirmed that a similar level of support would be extended in response to the current disaster, as was done during Sri Lanka’s economic crisis in 2022.
The Minister also said that India would provide maximum support to help promote tourism in Sri Lanka.
The President and Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath expressed their gratitude to the Indian Prime Minister for this assistance.
