Colombo, Dec 19: India has stepped up humanitarian assistance to Sri Lanka in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah, distributing relief kits and supporting infrastructure restoration in areas hit by floods and severe damage.
As part of India’s relief efforts under Operation Sagar Bandhu, High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka Santosh Jha distributed assistance kits to affected families in Colombo’s Kolonnawa suburb and to children at the Bhaktivedanta Children’s Home ‘Gokulam’ in Wattala, which was impacted by the cyclone.
In a post on X, the High Commission of India in Colombo said floods triggered by Cyclone Ditwah had severely affected Kolonnawa and the children’s home, where residents were temporarily relocated to the ISKCON Temple in Colombo. The assistance was distributed in coordination with local organisations, including the All Ceylon Sufi Spiritual Association.
India is also providing engineering support to restore damaged infrastructure. Indian Army engineers are working along the A35 near Kilinochchi, preparing and supporting bridge restoration efforts to reconnect disrupted road networks and facilitate movement for communities affected by the cyclone, the High Commission said.
Separately, the Assistant High Commission of India in Kandy distributed dry ration packets to 200 families in Nuwara Eliya district affected by Cyclone Ditwah. The distribution was carried out by Assistant High Commissioner Saranya V S in coordination with local authorities and elected representatives.
In a statement, the Assistant High Commission said the relief operation reaffirmed India’s steadfast solidarity with the people of Sri Lanka during the recovery phase.
Launched in line with India’s Neighbourhood First policy, Operation Sagar Bandhu aims to provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief to Sri Lanka in the wake of the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah.