India has announced a $450 million relief and recovery package for Sri Lanka in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah, underlining its commitment to stand by its neighbour during times of crisis.
The assistance package has been designed to support immediate humanitarian relief, restoration of essential services and long-term rebuilding in areas affected by the cyclone. Severe winds and heavy rainfall caused by Ditwah disrupted power supply, damaged homes, affected transport networks and impacted livelihoods across several coastal and inland regions of Sri Lanka.
According to officials, a significant portion of the support will be directed towards rebuilding public infrastructure such as roads, water supply systems, healthcare facilities and schools. The package will also include assistance for restoring electricity networks, improving drainage systems and strengthening disaster-resilient infrastructure to reduce the impact of future natural calamities.
India will work closely with Sri Lankan authorities to ensure that aid reaches vulnerable communities, with a special focus on families who have lost homes, farmers whose crops were damaged, and small businesses that were forced to suspend operations due to the storm.
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The announcement reflects India’s continued policy of extending timely support to neighbouring countries in times of natural disasters. Sri Lankan authorities have welcomed the assistance, describing it as a critical step towards stabilising essential services and accelerating rehabilitation efforts.
Officials on both sides indicated that coordinated implementation plans will be rolled out in the coming weeks, with priority given to healthcare restoration, safe housing and livelihood recovery.
The relief package is expected to play a key role in Sri Lanka’s recovery, helping communities rebuild and strengthening bilateral cooperation in disaster response and humanitarian assistance.
