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…
Latest Cyclone Ditwah News & Updates
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…
Colombo, Jan 7 (IANS) India’s Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Upendra Dwivedi on Wednesday laid a wreath at the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) Memorial in Sri Lanka, paying homage to the soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice during Operation Pawan. In a statement shared on X, Additional Directorate General of Public Information (ADGPI) stated, “General Upendra Dwivedi, COAS, laid a wreath at the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) Memorial in Sri Lanka, paying solemn homage to the brave so…
Colombo, Jan 7 (IANS) As part of Operation Sagar Bandhu, the Indian Army’s Engineer Task Force is working relentlessly to restore B-492, which connects Kandy in the Central Province to Badulla in Sri Lanka’s Uva Province, which was severely affected due to Cyclone Ditwah. In a video posted by the Indian Army on X, a schoolgirl said, “We are really grateful to you for the service you have done for us, especially coming all the way from India. Due to the damaged bridge, we had no way of crossing o…
Colombia, Jan 6 (IANS) Sri Lanka recorded its highest number of foreign tourist arrivals in 2025, with tourism earnings reaching new annual records despite disruptions caused by Cyclone Ditwah, said the country’s foreign minister at a media briefing.Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Vijitha Herath on Monday said Sri Lanka received more than 2.36 million foreign tourists during the year, the highest number recorded in a single calendar year.Tourism revenue totalled 3.2 b…
Colombo, Jan 3 (IANS) The Indian Army is continuing its relief and reconstruction operations in Sri Lanka under Operation Sagar Bandhu following the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah, which struck the island nation in November last year.After successfully launching a critical dual carriageway Bailey bridge at Kilinochchi in Jaffna, Indian Army Engineers have now begun site improvement work for the construction of a 100-foot Bailey Bridge at KM-21 in Kandy.The bridge is being built to restore …