Sri Lankan cricket legend Sanath Jayasuriya has publicly thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and the people of India for standing by Sri Lanka as the island nation recovers from the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah. His message of gratitude comes at a time when India has launched one of its largest-ever coordinated rescue and relief missions in the country under Operation Sagar Bandhu.
“Your support, as during our economic crisis, shows the true strength of our friendship,” Jayasuriya wrote, echoing the sentiment of millions affected by the unprecedented floods and landslides. The scale of the tragedy is staggering: over 330 people have lost their lives, 370 are still missing and more than 11 million people have been affected since the extreme weather began to hit Sri Lanka on 16 November.
India has mobilized personnel and assets from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the Indian Air Force (IAF), the Indian Navy and the Indian High Commission in Colombo. NDRF teams are working in submerged neighborhoods in Colombo to help families trapped by rising waters. The IAF carried out daring missions, including a hybrid rescue where a commando was pulled into dangerous terrain to guide stranded tourists and locals to safety before airlifting 24 people to Colombo.
Two helicopters from INS Vikrant were also instrumental in rescuing families stranded on rooftops – including the dramatic airlift of a family of four. The IAF deployed Mi-17 V5 helicopters to Colombo for rapid deployment, while transport aircraft such as C-130Js and IL-76s delivered nearly 21 tonnes of relief material. The naval ship INS Sukanya is also on its way with more humanitarian supplies.
In addition to large-scale relief efforts, India facilitated the evacuation of more than 320 stranded Indian nationals and delivered essential items including dry rations, fuel and medical supplies – many of which were contributed by the Indian community in Colombo.
As Sri Lanka grapples with the aftermath and remains in a state of emergency, Jayasuriya’s message captures a moment of solidarity – a reminder of how deeply the India-Sri Lanka partnership resonates in times of crisis.
– The end
Issued by:
Amar Panicker
Published on:
December 2, 2025
