India Announces $450 Million Cyclone Relief Package for Sri Lanka

India will extend a $450 million assistance package to Sri Lanka to support cyclone relief and reconstruction efforts, Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said on Tuesday during an official visit to the island nation. The aid comes as Sri Lanka continues to recover from its 2022 economic crisis and now faces fresh challenges following the recent cyclone.

Speaking alongside Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath, Jaishankar said the natural disaster had compounded the country’s difficulties at a sensitive time in its recovery. He reaffirmed India’s commitment to standing by Sri Lanka during times of hardship and supporting its rebuilding efforts.

The assistance package will focus on restoring critical infrastructure in the worst-affected areas, including railways, roads, and bridges, as well as rebuilding homes destroyed by the cyclone. The support is expected to help speed up recovery and improve connectivity in flood-hit regions.

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