EAM Jaishankar in cyclone-hit Sri Lanka, India commits 450 million dollar reconstruction package
NEW DELHI: India has pledged a $450 million reconstruction and recovery package to Sri Lanka following the devastation caused by CycloneDitwah , External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar announced on Tuesday during his visit to Colombo as a special envoy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Speaking after talks with Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath, Jaishankar said he carrieda personal messagefrom Prime Minister Modi to President Anura Kumar Dissanayake, whom he met earlier in the day. The President was kind enough to receive me thismorning,and we had a detailed discussion on the damage caused by CycloneDitwah, he said. The letter from Prime Minister Modi builds on our First Responder role and commits a reconstruction package of USD 450 million to Sri Lanka. Jaishankar said discussions focused on how quickly theassistancecould be delivered, underlining Indias role as Sri Lankas closestneighbour. In line with ourNeighbourhoodFirst and MAHASAGAR policies, it was only natural that India step forward at a time when Sri Lanka faced a crisis, he said, recalling New Delhis support during Sri Lankas recent economic difficulties. Detailing Indias emergency response, Jaishankar said relief operations under Operation Sagar Bandhu began on the day CycloneDitwahmade landfall. Our Aircraft Carrier INS Vikrant and INS Udayagiri were present at Colombo and delivered relief material, after which helicopters were deployed, he said. He added that Indian Air Force Mi-17 helicoptersoperatedin Sri Lanka for more than two weeks, while an 80-member National Disaster Response Force team carried out rescue and relief work. Jaishankarpointed out that theIndian Army also set up a field hospital near Kandy with 85 medical personnel, providing emergency care to over 8,000 people. Two modular BHISHM emergency care units were airlifted andutilised, he said. India steps up aid as Cyclone Ditwah death toll in Sri Lanka crosses 200 Jaishankar said restoring connectivity was identified as an immediate priority. Army engineers erected a Bailey bridge atKillinochchiusing equipment transported by C-17aircraft, while another bridge atChilawis currently under construction. Overall, India delivered more than 1,100tonnesof relief supplies, including food, tents, hygienekits,and water purification equipment, along with 14.5tonnesof medicines and medical gear. Outlining the reconstruction package, Jaishankar said it wouldcomprise$350 million in concessional lines of credit and $100 million in grants. Theassistancewill focus on rebuilding roads,railwaysand bridges; housing; health and education facilities; agriculture; and strengthening disaster preparedness. We are conscious that work towards mitigating the impact of CycloneDitwahmust be done in the quickest time possible, he said, adding that India and Sri Lanka werefinalisingcoordination mechanisms for rapid delivery. Jaishankar also pointed to longer-term support, including boosting Indian tourism and foreign direct investment. India stands firmly with Sri Lanka more than ever before, he said, expressing confidence in the island nations resilience as it recovers from the disaster. Indian Navy deploys four more ships to cyclone-hit Sri Lanka, delivers 1000 tons of relief material
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