INDIA on Tuesday announced a reconstruction package of USD 450 million to cyclone Ditwahhit Sri Lanka, as External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met with the island nation’s top leaders and assured Delhi’s steadfast commitment to Colombo’s rebuilding post-cyclone. Jaishankar, who arrived here as Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Special Envoy, said that it was natural for India to step forward at a time when Sri Lanka faced a crisis.

 

The Minister called President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and conveyed PM Modi’s warm wishes and message of solidarity in the aftermath of cyclone Ditwah. “The Letter from Prime Minister Modi that I handed over builds on our First Responder role and commits a reconstruction package of USD 450 million to Sri Lanka,” Jaishankar said while addressing the press alongside Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath. Jaishankar said he had a detailed discussion with the President on the damage caused by Cyclone Ditwah and their talks centred around how expeditiously India’s assistance package can be delivered.

 

Jaishankar and his counterpart Herath jointlyinaugurateda120-footdualcarriagewayBailey Bridge in the Kilinochchi District of Northern Province, one of the areas severely affected by the cyclone, in the presence of President Dissanayake. The 110-tonne bridge was air-lifted from India and installed as part of Operation SagarBandhu.Given thescaleofdamage, restoring connectivity was clearly an immediate priority, and this was in fact discussed between President Dissanayake and PM Modi in their telephone call, Jaishankar said.

 

Hesaid thatalargenumberofArmyEngineers erected the Bailey bridge, transported by C-17 aircraft at Killinochchi. One more Bailey bridge at Chilaw is currently under construction. He said India’s relief and assistance mission - Operation Sagar Bandhu - commenced on the very day that Cyclone Ditwah made landfall.