India announces $450M reconstruction package for floods-hit Sri Lanka

NEW DELHI

India on Tuesday announced $450 million reconstruction package for Sri Lanka, which has seen devastation caused by massive floods brought by Cyclone Ditwah.

The announcement came as India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar visited Colombo and met top leaders, including island President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

The death toll from the storm stands at more than 640, with 183 missing since the cyclone struck the island nation on Nov. 17.

“Building on our first responder activity under operation Sagar Bandhu, India will commit to a reconstruction package of USD 450 million to Sri Lanka,” Jaishankar wrote on US social media company X.

He said it would cover various areas, including rehabilitation and restoration of road, railway and bridge connectivity and construction of houses fully destroyed and partially damaged.

India had launched “Operation Sagar Bandhu” on Nov. 28 in the immediate aftermath of the devastating Cyclone Ditwah, to provide urgent humanitarian assistance and disaster relief support to Sri Lanka.

The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) last week approved a disbursement of around $206 million for Sri Lanka, for emergency support to help address payments and financial hardships caused by the cyclone.

NEW DELHI

India on Tuesday announced $450 million reconstruction package for Sri Lanka, which has seen devastation caused by massive floods brought by Cyclone Ditwah.

The announcement came as India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar visited Colombo and met top leaders, including island President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

The death toll from the storm stands at more than 640, with 183 missing since the cyclone struck the island nation on Nov. 17.

He said it would cover various areas, including rehabilitation and restoration of road, railway and bridge connectivity and construction of houses fully destroyed and partially damaged.