Colombo: India on Tuesday unveiled a $450 million reconstruction package to support Sri Lanka’s recovery from the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah, underscoring New Delhi’s commitment to its neighbourhood-first approach.
Announcing the assistance in Colombo, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said the package includes a $350 million concessional line of credit and $100 million in grants, aimed at rebuilding critical infrastructure and restoring livelihoods in the worst-affected regions.
Pleased to call on H.E President @anuradisanayake in Colombo today.
Conveyed Prime Minister @narendramodi’s warm wishes and message of solidarity in aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah.
Building on our First Responder activity under #OperationSagarBandhu, India will commit to a… pic.twitter.com/gGY9qbiWap
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) December 23, 2025
The assistance will prioritise the rehabilitation of roads, railways and bridges, along with housing support for families whose homes were fully or partially damaged by the cyclone. Jaishankar said India stepped in swiftly to help Sri Lanka confront the dual challenge of a natural disaster and ongoing economic stress.
During his visit, the minister met Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, discussed the scale of damage caused by the cyclone, and handed over a letter from Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaffirming India’s solidarity with the island nation.
Jaishankar highlighted that, in keeping with India’s neighbourhood-first policy and the Mahasagar vision, New Delhi had moved immediately to provide relief. Under Operation Sagar Bandhu, India delivered around 1,100 tonnes of relief material and over 14.5 tonnes of medicines and medical equipment to Sri Lanka.
The External Affairs Minister also held talks with Sri Lankan Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya, assuring India’s steadfast support for post-cyclone rebuilding. In a social media post, he described the reconstruction package as a reflection of the deep bonds between the two countries.
In separate meetings, Jaishankar interacted with his Sri Lankan counterpart Vijita Herath, Health Minister Nalinda Jay, Labour and Deputy Finance Minister Anil Jayantha, and Deputy Tourism Minister Ruwan Ranasinghe. The discussions focused on the rollout of the reconstruction package and additional relief measures.
Later, the minister met members of the Indian business community in Sri Lanka, lauding their contributions to cyclone relief efforts, and also held talks with Sri Lanka’s Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa on India’s proposed reconstruction support.
India, Jaishankar said, will continue to encourage tourism and investment flows to Sri Lanka, helping the country rebuild and stabilise in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah.
