The United Kingdom has extended £1 million (around US$ 1.3 million) in immediate humanitarian assistance to support communities affected by Cyclone Ditwah, with Acting British High Commissioner Theresa O’Mahony on 8 December visiting Red Cross operations in Gampaha to review the deployment of UK-funded aid.
O’Mahony toured the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society’s Gampaha centre, where relief items financed by the UK are being packaged for distribution, and met volunteer teams coordinating the response. She also travelled to flood-affected villages to speak with families who have been displaced or suffered severe losses due to the cyclone.
The £1 million allocation forms part of the UK’s initial emergency response and will be channelled through partner humanitarian agencies to deliver essential supplies and life-saving assistance.
During the visit, O’Mahony was accompanied by International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) Head of South Asia John Entwhistle. Sri Lanka Red Cross Secretary General Dr. Mahesh Gunasekara briefed the delegation on the ongoing relief operation, including IFRC’s medical and logistical support in temporary camps established across the district.
The UK is also a key contributor to broader international disaster-relief mechanisms assisting Sri Lanka, including the IFRC and the Asian Development Bank, which have mobilised significant funding to support national response efforts.
Speaking in Gampaha, O’Mahony reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to supporting Sri Lanka’s recovery.
“I’ve seen here in Gampaha today that many families are facing grief and uncertainty; our support is about helping people get back on their feet—safely and with dignity. The UK stands shoulder to shoulder with the people of Sri Lanka as relief and recovery efforts continue,” she said.
