Cyclone Relief: India Pledges 450M to Aid Sri Lanka

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Tuesday emphasized that India stands firmly with Sri Lanka as the country faces the impact of Cyclone Ditwah, proposing an assistance package worth USD 450 million. During his visit to Sri Lanka as Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s special envoy, Jaishankar made the announcement alongside Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath, underlining India’s commitment to support Sri Lanka in managing the disaster and aiding its recovery efforts.

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External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, currently on a two-day visit to Sri Lanka, highlighted that the country is facing fresh challenges just as it was beginning to recover from the economic crisis of 2022. He said that following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s instructions, India is engaging closely with the Sri Lankan government to address its urgent priorities. As part of this effort, India has proposed an assistance package worth USD 450 million, which includes USD 350 million in concessional lines of credit and USD 100 million in grants, aimed at supporting Sri Lanka in managing the impact of Cyclone Ditwah and stabilizing its economy.

Boosting Recovery with India’s Multi-Sector Support for Sri Lanka

India is finalizing the assistance package in close coordination with the Sri Lankan government, targeting the sectors hit hardest by Cyclone Ditwah. The support will focus on restoring road, railway, and bridge connectivity, rebuilding fully and partially damaged houses, strengthening health and education systems affected by the cyclone, addressing short- and medium-term agricultural challenges, and enhancing disaster response and preparedness.

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