Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar met President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in Colombo today (23), conveying a message of solidarity and goodwill from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Speaking after the meeting, Dr. Jaishankar said India’s assistance builds on its role as a first responder under Operation Sagar Bandhu, through which emergency relief was provided immediately after the cyclone struck Sri Lanka.
He outlined that the comprehensive support package will prioritize five key areas: the rehabilitation and restoration of road, rail, and bridge connectivity; construction of houses that were fully or partially damaged; assistance to the health and education sectors affected by the disaster; agricultural support to address short- and medium-term shortages; and strengthening disaster response and preparedness mechanisms.
“India stands firmly with Sri Lanka, rooted in our civilizational ties and guided by the principles of #NeighbourhoodFirst and #VisionMAHASAGAR,” Dr. Jaishankar said.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath, stated during a joint briefing that bilateral relations between the two countries continue to deepen across multiple sectors, including energy security, connectivity, trade and investment, health, education, maritime security, and tourism.
