India has announced an aid package of $450 million to help Sri Lanka which is suffering huge losses due to Cyclone Ditva. Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar said in Colombo that India stands strongly with Sri Lanka in this difficult time. He has reached Sri Lanka as a special representative of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Delivered the message of Prime Minister Narendra Modi
S. Jaishankar handed over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s letter to Sri Lankan President Dissanayake. He said that in this letter it has been said to provide assistance of 450 million dollars for the reconstruction of Sri Lanka. After the cyclone, India immediately started Operation Sagar Bandhu. After the completion of relief work under this campaign, attention is now being given to reconstruction. More than 600 people died in this disaster and lakhs of people were affected.
Sent relief materials and medicines
Jaishankar said that India sent about 1,100 tonnes of relief material to Sri Lanka. Along with this, 14.5 tonnes of medicines and medical items were also given. He said that Prime Minister Modi has asked the officials to work together with the Sri Lankan government, so that the most important works can be completed first.
Full details of help
This $450 million aid given by India to Sri Lanka includes $350 million loan on easy terms and $100 million direct aid. This money will be invested in important works with the advice of the Sri Lankan government.
Emphasis on helping neighboring countries
Jaishankar said that India will help in handling the economy of Sri Lanka in future also. Work will also be done to send more tourists from India to Sri Lanka and increase investment. He said that Sri Lanka was just recovering from the economic crisis of 2022, when this disaster struck and the situation worsened.
Cyclonic storm Ditva causes huge devastation
Cyclonic storm Ditva reached Sri Lanka on 28 November. After this there were heavy rains, floods and landslides in the mountains. Areas like Colombo, Gampaha, Puttalam, Mannar, Trincomalee and Batticaloa suffered major damage.
thousands of houses destroyed
About 75 thousand houses were damaged in this disaster, out of which about 5 thousand were completely destroyed. The Sri Lankan government has planned to provide financial assistance to the affected families, build houses in safe places and provide assistance for children’s education and essential items.