India Announces $450 Million Cyclone Relief Package for Sri Lanka, Reinforcing Trusted Neighbour Role

India has pledged a $450 million (approx. ₹3,720 crore) relief and reconstruction package to Sri Lanka in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah, reaffirming its role as a trusted and reliable neighbor during times of crisis, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said on Tuesday during a visit to Colombo. 

The assistance package will include $350 million in concessional lines of credit and $100 million in grants, aimed at supporting both immediate relief and longer-term reconstruction efforts across cyclone-hit areas. 

Priority areas for the aid include:

• Restoration of critical infrastructure such as railways, roads, and bridges damaged by the cyclone.

• Reconstruction of destroyed homes and provision of shelter.

• Support for healthcare, education, agriculture, and disaster preparedness programs. 

The announcement, made alongside Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath, comes at a time when Sri Lanka was already recovering from the economic crisis of 2022 and is now facing fresh challenges due to the natural disaster. 

Operation Sagar Bandhu: Swift Humanitarian Response

India’s disaster response mission, Operation Sagar Bandhu, was launched on November 28, 2025, immediately after the cyclone struck, and has delivered extensive humanitarian assistance across Sri Lanka. 

Key relief actions so far include

• Over 1,130 tonnes of essential relief material—including dry rations, tents, tarpaulins, hygiene kits, clothing, water purification systems, and medical supplies—were delivered via air and sea. 

• Deployment of Indian Naval ships and Indian Air Force aircraft carrying food, blankets, and emergency kits.

• Search and rescue teams, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) units, and medical personnel are assisting on the ground. 

• Air evacuations and ground support, including helicopter deliveries of supplies to remote areas and medical evacuations.

• State-level support, such as 950 tonnes of humanitarian aid sent from Tamil Nadu, including food, clothing, and other essentials. 

Reaffirming Neighbourhood First and Maha Sagar Policies

Jaishankar underlined that India’s assistance is rooted in the Neighbourhood First and Maha Sagar policies, reflecting the nation’s commitment to being a dependable partner in South Asia and the Indian Ocean region. 

“As your closest neighbor, and in line with our policy commitments, it was only natural that India stepped forward at a time when Sri Lanka faced a crisis,” he said, highlighting decades of cooperation and mutual support between the two nations.

Sri Lankan leaders have expressed appreciation for India’s swift and large-scale support, emphasizing that the assistance will help communities recover and rebuild more quickly in the cyclone’s aftermath.