New Delhi, March 7 (IANS) External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar on Saturday stated that India’s rise would benefit the Indian Ocean region, describing it as “a lifting tide”, emphasising the strategic significance of the wider region. Speaking alongside Seychelles Foreign Minister Barry Faure and Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath during the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi on ‘Heart of the Seas: Future of the Indian Ocean’, EAM said, “I do want the rest of the Indian Ocean to appre…
Latest Cyclone Ditwah News & Updates
Colombo, Feb 23 (IANS) Indian tourists visiting Sri Lanka have steadily increased over the past three years, reinforcing India’s position as the largest source of foreign visitors. While Indian tourists accounted for 17 per cent of total arrivals in 2022, their share rose to 22.5 per cent in 2025, underscoring India’s clear dominance compared to other nations, a report said on Monday.According to a report in the leading international news magazine ‘The Diplomat’, the United Kingdom ranked as…
New Delhi, Feb 20 (IANS) Sri Lanka President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Friday thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the invitation to the landmark AI Impact Summit and also India’s “exceptional support” during the recent Cyclone Ditwah that caused widespread damage in the island nation. PM Modi and the visiting Lankan leader met at the Hyderabad House in New Delhi, holding discussions on the sidelines of the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi.”Joined Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New De…
Washington, Feb 4 (IANS) US Secretary of State Marco Rubio congratulated the people of Sri Lanka on their National Day, highlighting what he described as a growing partnership rooted in shared interests in the Indo-Pacific.“It is a great honor to congratulate the people of Sri Lanka as they celebrate their National Day,” Rubio said in a press statement issued by the State Department.He said the United States and Sri Lanka have “built a relationship grounded in mutual respect and a commitme…
Colombo/Visakhapatnam, Jan 31 (IANS) India on Saturday dispatched to Colombo a consignment of 10 Bailey Bridges to assist restoration of critical connectivity in parts of the country severely affected by Cyclone Ditwah. “India continues to stand with Sri Lanka to support reconstruction efforts after Cyclone Ditwah. To assist restoration of critical connectivity, a consignment of 10 Bailey Bridges was despatched today from Visakhapatnam to Colombo on-board INS Gharial,” the Ministry of External A…
New Delhi, Jan 17 (IANS) The Indian Army has successfully constructed a third Bailey bridge on Sri Lanka’s B-492 Highway, linking Kandy and Nuwara Eliya in the Central Province, restoring a critical lifeline that was severed for over a month following Cyclone Ditwah. The bridge, measuring 120 feet in length and located at KM 15, was built by the Indian Army’s Engineer Task Force as part of ongoing efforts under Operation Sagar Bandhu.Taking to social media X, Indian Army posted, “The India…
Washington, Jan 16 (IANS) The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said a fact-finding mission will visit Sri Lanka from January 22 to 28 to assess damage from Cyclone Ditwah and discuss the implications for the country’s ongoing Extended Fund Facility (EFF) programme.“A fact-finding mission will visit Sri Lanka from January 22nd to 28th,” Julie Kozack, Director of the IMF’s Communications Department, said at an IMF press briefing.“The mission, the goal of the mission is to firm up our un…
Colombia, Jan 11 (IANS) Sri Lanka’s Minister of Environment Dammika Patabendi has directed officials to renovate elephant fences damaged by Cyclone Ditwah within one week.The ministry announced on Sunday that the order was issued during a progress review meeting held on Saturday on the restoration of fences severely affected by last month’s cyclone, reports Xinhua news agency.The ministry said extensive damage has been reported across a number of areas affected by the Human Elephant Conflict (HE…
Colombo, Jan 8 (IANS) Sri Lankan Member of Parliament Namal Rajapaksa on Thursday stressed that India’s leadership is central to maintaining long-term peace and stability in South Asia region. Rajapaksa stated that India can play a central role as there is an urgent need for stronger regional cooperation in South Asia amid a series of recent global security developments.”Amid a series of recent global security developments, there is a growing and urgent need for stronger regional cooperation in …
Colombo, Jan 8 (IANS) Indian Army chief General Upendra Dwivedi held talks with Sri Lankan defence officials on Thursday, focusing on cooperation in Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) and enhancing collaboration between the two nations in areas of shared interest.The Indian Army Chief met Sri Lanka’s Deputy Defence Minister Aruna Jayasekara and Defence Secretary Sampath Thuyacontha.According to the Indian Army, the discussions centred on strengthening bilateral defence cooperatio…