In a decisive demonstration of its “Neighbourhood First” policy, External Affairs Minister (EAM) Dr. S. Jaishankar visited Sri Lanka on 23 December 2025 as the Special Envoy of the Prime Minister. The visit took place in the context of ‘Operation Sagar Bandhu’, launched to address the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah.
The EAM was received one day earlier by Mr. Ruwan Ranasinghe, Deputy Minister of Tourism, upon his arrival at Bandaranaike International Airport. The substantive portion of the visit commenced on the morning of 23 December, when Dr. Jaishankar called on the President of Sri Lanka, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, at the Presidential Secretariat. During this crucial meeting, Dr. Jaishankar handed over a special letter from PM Narendra Modi to President Dissanayake. It was during this engagement that the External Affairs Minister formally conveyed India’s commitment to providing a relief package amounting to USD 450 million. Dr. Jaishankar clarified the structure of this financial assistance, stating that out of the total amount, USD 100 million would be extended as a grant, while the remaining USD 350 million would be provided as a concessional line of credit. He emphasised that India remains confident that Sri Lanka will recover swiftly under President Dissanayake’s leadership, asserting that India stands “hand in hand with Sri Lanka more firmly than ever” in the country’s rebuilding programme.
President Dissanayake expressed his profound appreciation for the compassionate and rapid support extended by the Government of India. He specifically acknowledged India’s role as the first responder and gratefully recalled the exceptional support provided during the acute phase of the disaster, including the deployment of helicopters for rescue operations and the supply of essential medicines, food, and other humanitarian aid, as well as assistance for infrastructure rehabilitation such as the reconstruction of damaged roads and the restoration of hospitals. He remarked that this gesture of solidarity during Sri Lanka’s post-disaster reconstruction efforts would signify a “new era in Indo–Sri Lanka relations.”
Following the meeting with the President, Dr. Jaishankar proceeded to Temple Trees to meet with the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya. These discussions focused heavily on the operational aspects of the reconstruction efforts and the restoration of normalcy in the affected regions. He reaffirmed India’s readiness to extend support across critical infrastructure sectors, specifically mentioning assistance for rebuilding railways and bridges, as well as strengthening the agricultural sector, which had suffered during the cyclone. He also highlighted the necessity of having effective systems in place to respond to future disaster situations, advocating for the support of strong legislative, administrative, and institutional frameworks to ensure resilience.
Prime Minister Amarasuriya commended the Government of India for its continued support, noting that the recovery process had now moved beyond immediate relief to encompass long-term measures such as resettlement, rehabilitation, and infrastructure reconstruction. This meeting was attended by high-ranking officials, including the High Commissioner of India and senior representatives from the Sri Lankan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, underscoring the multi-layered cooperation between the two administrations.
Continuing the chronological sequence of high-level engagements, Dr. Jaishankar held detailed bilateral discussions with his counterpart, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Vijitha Herath. A significant highlight of the visit was the virtual inauguration of a Bailey bridge on the A-35 road in Kilinochchi. The opening was conducted jointly by the foreign ministers of both nations in the presence of President Dissanayake.
The visit also served as a platform to reinforce broader economic cooperation. Throughout the visit, the sentiment expressed by both sides was one of resilience and solidarity.” He concluded his engagements by assuring them that India stands firmly with them “more than ever before.” The visit concluded on a note of strengthened bilateral relations, with both nations agreeing to establish an effective coordination mechanism to ensure the earliest possible delivery of the committed assistance.
