External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar arrived in Colombo on Monday to hold discussions with Sri Lanka’s top leadership as the island nation begins the process of rebuilding after the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah. Jaishankar is visiting Sri Lanka as a special envoy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, underlining India’s commitment to assisting its neighbour during times of crisis.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the visit highlights India’s “Neighbourhood First Policy” and takes place in the context of Operation Sagar Bandhu, which was launched to support Sri Lanka following the cyclone. “The visit underscores India’s Neighbourhood First Policy and takes place in the context of Operation Sagar Bandhu launched to address the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah,” the MEA said in an official statement.

Cyclone Ditwah caused massive destruction across Sri Lanka, killing more than 640 people and damaging key transport infrastructure. In response to the disaster, India initiated Operation Sagar Bandhu on November 28 to provide immediate humanitarian assistance to the island nation. Since then, India has delivered over 1,134 tonnes of relief material, including dry food rations, tents, tarpaulins, hygiene kits, clothing, water purification systems, and 14.5 tonnes of medicines and surgical equipment.

Upon his arrival in Colombo, Jaishankar was welcomed by Sri Lanka’s Deputy Tourism Minister Ruwan Ranasinghe. Sharing a message on social media platform X, Jaishankar said, “Landed in Colombo this evening. Thank you, (Sri Lanka’s) Deputy Tourism Minister Ruwan Ranasinghe, for the warm reception. Look forward to my meetings with Sri Lankan leadership tomorrow.”

During the visit, Jaishankar held talks with Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath and met President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. He conveyed a personal message from Prime Minister Modi to the Sri Lankan President and discussed the extensive damage caused by Cyclone Ditwah.

Speaking after the meetings, Jaishankar said that the President received him warmly and that their discussions focused on the impact of the cyclone and India’s continued assistance. “The President was kind enough to receive me this morning, and we had a detailed discussion on the damage caused by Cyclone Ditwah,” he said. He added that the message from Prime Minister Modi reaffirmed India’s role as a first responder and announced a major reconstruction package for Sri Lanka.

India has pledged a $450 million reconstruction and recovery package to support Sri Lanka’s rebuilding efforts. Outlining the details, Jaishankar said the package would include $350 million in concessional lines of credit and $100 million in grants. “The letter from Prime Minister Modi builds on our First Responder role and commits a reconstruction package of USD 450 million to Sri Lanka,” he said.

Jaishankar explained that the discussions with Sri Lankan leaders focused on how quickly the assistance could be delivered, stressing the importance of rapid action. He underlined India’s position as Sri Lanka’s closest neighbour and long-standing partner. “In line with our Neighbourhood First and MAHASAGAR policies, it was only natural that India step forward at a time when Sri Lanka faced a crisis,” he said, recalling India’s support to Sri Lanka during its recent economic difficulties.

Detailing India’s emergency response, Jaishankar said relief operations under Operation Sagar Bandhu began on the very day Cyclone Ditwah made landfall. He noted that the Indian Navy played a key role in delivering aid. “Our Aircraft Carrier INS Vikrant and INS Udayagiri were present at Colombo and delivered relief material, after which helicopters were deployed,” he said.

Indian Naval ships, including INS Vikrant, INS Udaygiri, INS Sukanya, INS Gharial, and landing craft units LCU-54, LCU-57 and LCU-51, along with Indian Coast Guard Ship Shaurya, transported relief supplies to Colombo and Trincomalee. These efforts ensured that essential materials reached affected areas quickly.

Jaishankar also highlighted the role of the Indian Air Force in the relief operations. He said Mi-17 helicopters of the Indian Air Force operated in Sri Lanka for more than two weeks, carrying out rescue missions and delivering aid to hard-to-reach areas. Additionally, an 80-member team of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) was deployed to assist in rescue and relief work.

Medical assistance formed a major part of India’s support. Jaishankar said the Indian Army established a field hospital near Kandy, staffed by 85 medical personnel. The facility provided emergency medical care to more than 8,000 people affected by the cyclone. “Two modular BHISHM emergency care units were airlifted and utilised,” he said, highlighting India’s rapid medical response.

Restoring connectivity was identified as an immediate priority following the cyclone. Jaishankar said Indian Army engineers constructed a Bailey bridge at Killinochchi, using equipment transported by C-17 aircraft. He added that work on another bridge at Chilaw is currently underway. These measures were aimed at reconnecting isolated areas and facilitating the movement of people and supplies.

Overall, India delivered more than 1,100 tonnes of relief supplies, including food, shelter materials, hygiene kits, water purification equipment, and medical supplies. Jaishankar said these efforts reflected India’s commitment to standing with Sri Lanka during difficult times.

Explaining how the $450 million reconstruction package will be used, Jaishankar said the assistance will focus on rebuilding critical infrastructure and supporting long-term recovery. The funds will be directed towards repairing roads, railways and bridges, rebuilding housing, strengthening health and education facilities, supporting agriculture, and improving disaster preparedness mechanisms.

“We are conscious that work towards mitigating the impact of Cyclone Ditwah must be done in the quickest time possible,” Jaishankar said, adding that India and Sri Lanka are finalising coordination mechanisms to ensure fast and effective delivery of assistance.

The visit comes against the backdrop of continued high-level engagement between the two countries. Earlier, Prime Minister Modi held a telephone conversation with Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and assured India’s continued support to the flood-hit island nation. During the call, Modi said the people of India “stand in firm solidarity” with Sri Lanka during this crisis and reaffirmed New Delhi’s commitment to supporting rescue, relief and rehabilitation efforts.

Jaishankar also spoke about India’s longer-term support for Sri Lanka beyond immediate relief and reconstruction. He pointed to efforts to boost Indian tourism to the island nation and encourage foreign direct investment as part of Sri Lanka’s recovery process. “India stands firmly with Sri Lanka more than ever before,” Jaishankar said, expressing confidence in Sri Lanka’s resilience and ability to recover from the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah.

The visit and the announced assistance underline India’s approach of acting as a reliable first responder in the region and strengthening ties with neighbouring countries through timely and sustained support.