Cyclone Ditwah: Sri Lanka is struggling with the devastation of Cyclone Ditwah, India will provide help of 450 million dollars.

Colombo. Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar on Tuesday said India is proud to stand with Sri Lanka during Cyclone Ditva and has offered a US$450 million aid package to the island nation.

Jaishankar, who came to Sri Lanka as the special envoy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, made these comments in the presence of Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herat. He also handed over a letter from Modi to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

Jaishankar wrote on the social media platform

Jaishankar said, “Prime Minister Modi directed that we should talk to the Sri Lankan government regarding its priorities.” The assistance package that we have proposed in that context amounts to US$ 450 million. The package will include a concessional loan of US$ 350 million and grant assistance of US$ 100 million, he said.

“This package is being finalized in consultation with the Government of Sri Lanka,” he said. Our assistance will cover the areas that have been most affected by the cyclone, the first being the restoration of road, rail and bridge connectivity. The second is helping in the reconstruction of houses that have been completely destroyed and those that have suffered partial damage.

Third – support for health and education systems, especially those damaged by the cyclone. Fourth – the agriculture sector, which includes measures to deal with possible shortages in the short and medium term and fifth – working towards better disaster response and preparedness. Jaishankar said that considering the scale of the loss, it is natural for India to come forward to help Sri Lanka.

He said that India’s ‘Operation Sagar Bandhu’ had started on the very first day of ‘Ditva’ reaching Sri Lanka. “Our aircraft carriers INS Vikrant and INS Udayagiri were present in Colombo and dropped relief material, following which helicopters were deployed,” he said.

He said several ‘Mi-17’ helicopters of the Indian Air Force airlifted aid to Sri Lanka for more than two weeks while an 80-member National Disaster Response Force team carried out rescue and relief operations. He said that a total of more than 1,100 tonnes of relief material was delivered under ‘Operation Sagar Bandhu’, which included dry ration, tents, tarpaulins, hygiene kits, essential clothing and water purification kits.

Jaishankar said about 14.5 tonnes of medicines and medical equipment were also provided and 60 tonnes of additional equipment was brought to Sri Lanka to assist in relief efforts. The External Affairs Minister said, “Army engineers constructed a bailey bridge brought by C-17 aircraft in Kilinochchi. Construction of another bailey bridge is currently underway at Chillal.

Referring to other ways of assisting Sri Lanka, Jaishankar said that Sri Lanka’s economy is highly dependent on tourism, so India will encourage Indian tourism in Sri Lanka. “Similarly, an increase in foreign direct investment from India can boost your economy at this critical time,” the External Affairs Minister said. We have seen Sri Lanka’s strong resolve in the past. India stands with Sri Lanka more strongly than ever before.