External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar landed in Colombo on Monday to hold talks with Sri Lanka’s top leadership as the island nation begins recovery efforts after Cyclone Ditwah.
Jaishankar is visiting Sri Lanka as the Special Envoy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“The visit underlines India’s neighborhood policy and is taking place in the context of Operation Sagar Bandhu launched to address the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in Delhi said.
The cyclone, which hit the island nation in late November, killed over 640 people and damaged crops, tea plantations and critical transport infrastructure including roads and bridges.
Operation Sagar Bandhu
India launched Operation Sagar Bandhu to help Sri Lanka deal with the crisis. On Tuesday, Jaishankar will hold talks with the Sri Lankan top leadership.
“They landed in Colombo this evening. I thank Deputy Tourism Minister Ruwan Ranasinghe for the warm welcome. I look forward to my meeting with the Sri Lankan leadership tomorrow,” the foreign affairs minister said on ‘X’.
What’s on the agenda?
The minister is expected to hold talks with Sri Lanka’s top leadership today as the island nation begins recovery efforts after Cyclone Ditwah
Since the launch of Operation Sagar Bandhu on 28 November, India has provided over 1,134 tonnes of humanitarian aid to Sri Lanka, including dry rations, tents, tarpaulins, hygiene kits, clothing, water purification systems and 14.5 tonnes of medicines and surgical equipment.
Several Indian naval ships, including INS Vikrant, INS Udaygiri, INS Sukanya and INS Gharial, transported large volumes of relief materials to Colombo and Trincomalee.
Two National Disaster Response Force teams conducted immediate search and rescue operations while the 85-member Indian Army Field Hospital set up at Mahiyanganaya provided life-saving medical care to more than 7,000 patients.
Indian Air Force and Navy helicopters evacuated survivors, airlifted troops and delivered relief supplies, reflecting India’s unwavering commitment to Sri Lanka in times of crisis.
Mosi talks to the Lankan president
Earlier, PM Modi had a phone call with Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and assured India’s continued assistance to the flood-hit island nation.
The visit underlines India’s neighborhood policy and takes place in the context of Operation Sagar Bandhu launched to address the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah.
Modi said the people of India “stand in firm solidarity” with Sri Lanka during this crisis and reaffirmed New Delhi’s commitment to support rescue, relief and recovery efforts.
