Sri Lanka Navy on Thursday (January 1, 2026) said eight foreign vessels, including two from India, have been honoured for providing assistance to the island nation after the Cyclone Ditwah disaster that saw over 600 deaths.

Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya personally expressed gratitude to a group of diplomatic officials of the countries concerned, Sri Lanka Navy spokesman Commander Sampath said in Colombo.

Widespread flooding, landslides and severe infrastructure collapse across the island nation severely strained the country’s disaster-response capacity in the wake of the Cyclone Ditwah that hit Sri Lanka in November last week.

Aircraft carrier INS Vikrant and another ship INS Udaygiri of the Indian Navy were the first to get involved in the rescue and relief operations.

Sting in the tail: on Cyclone Ditwah, its impact

When Ditwah made a landfall on November 27, eight foreign naval warships had arrived here to take part in the International Fleet Review 2025 to mark the 75th anniversary of the Sri Lanka Navy.

Highlighting the spirit of global and regional cooperation, the Sri Lanka Navy had acknowledged — in the immediate aftermath of the disaster — the “invaluable support by foreign warships, extending much-needed Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations, during the recent weather disaster in Sri Lanka,” a release said.

“Due to the disaster-situation triggered by severe weather conditions across the island, foreign warships that arrived for the event were promptly redirected to support humanitarian efforts. Particularly, helicopters deployed from the Indian Navy’s aircraft carrier INS Vikrant,” it added.

India’s relief and assistance mission – Operation Sagar Bandhu – commenced on the very day that Cyclone Ditwah made landfall. INS Vikrant and INS Udayagiri delivered relief material.

Operation Sagar Bandhu delivered over 1,100 tonnes of relief material, including dry rations, tents, tarpaulins, hygiene kits, essential clothing and water purification kits.

About 14.5 tons of medicines and medical equipment were also provided. Yet another 60 tons of equipment was brought to Sri Lanka to assist the relief operations.

Several Mi-17 helicopters of the Indian Air Force were active for a period of more than two weeks in Sri Lanka.

As of January 1, as many as 644 people have died and 175 are still missing since November 16, as landslides, floods and rainfall caused widespread destruction, data from the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) in Colombo showed.

India on December 23, 2025 announced a reconstruction package of $450 million for Sri Lanka, as External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met with the island nation’s top leaders and assured Delhi’s steadfast commitment to Colombo’s rebuilding post-cyclone.

The assistance package will include $350 million in concessional Lines of Credit and $100 million of grants.

India has extended its humanitarian and infrastructure assistance from the island’s north to the northern Jaffna peninsula following the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah.

Under Operation Sagar Bandhu, India has deployed engineering and medical teams to restore damaged connectivity and support affected communities.

“As part of India’s continued assistance to Sri Lanka under ‘Operation Sagar Bandhu’, the Indian High Commission in Colombo, Assistant High Commission in Kandy, and Consulate General of India in Jaffna conducted humanitarian assistance distribution drives for families affected by Cyclone Ditwah in different parts of the Island,” the release said.

“On December 18, High Commissioner of India Santosh Jha distributed relief kits among affected families in the Kolonnawa in coordination with ‘All Ceylon Sufi Spiritual Association’ and among children of Bhaktivedanta Children’s Home ‘Gokulam’ at ISKCON Temple in Colombo,” the release further stated.

“Earlier this month, the High Commissioner also distributed assistance among residents of Nayanalokagama, a village specially designated for the visually impaired, and among affected families in Negombo in Gampaha District,” the release added.

Between December 9 and 19, the Assistant High Commission of India in Kandy distributed essential food items and supplies among hundreds of affected families in Kandy, Nuwara Eliya and Badulla Districts.

Similarly, the Consulate General of India in Jaffna carried out several distribution drives for affected families in Mannar, Mullaithivu and Kilinochchi, as well as the island territories of Jaffna District.

Several tonnes of food and relief material have been handed over by India to the Government of Sri Lanka under ‘Operation Sagar Bandhu’.

On December 18, the Indian Army deployed engineers to Sri Lanka to assist in rebuilding critical infrastructure damaged by the cyclone.

“#OperationSagarBandhu restoring connectivity on the ground! @adgpi engineers are working steadily along the A35 near Kilinochchi, preparing and supporting bridge restoration efforts to reconnect disrupted road networks and ease movement for communities affected by #CycloneDitwah,” the mission posted on X.

India has taken a leading role in immediate emergency response efforts for Sri Lanka in the aftermath of cyclone Ditwah that has killed more than 400 people and caused widespread devastation, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s office said on Tuesday (December 2, 2025).

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed heartfelt condolences to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and reaffirmed that India stands firmly beside Sri Lanka and its people in this difficult hour,” the President’s office said.

Cyclone Ditwah LIVE updates – December 2, 2025

Prime Minister Modi on Monday (December 1, 2025) spoke to President Dissanayake and assured him of continued support in the rehabilitation efforts across all regions impacted by cyclone Ditwah.

In a telephone conversation, PM Modi expressed condolences for the loss of lives and devastation in Sri Lanka, and said the people of India stood in firm solidarity and support with the people of the island nation in this hour of need.

Sri Lanka has been grappling with widespread flooding, landslides and infrastructure collapse triggered by cyclone Ditwah, leaving several districts isolated and severely straining the country’s disaster-response capacity.

The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) has confirmed at least 410 deaths and 336 missing till Tuesday (December 2) morning in catastrophic floods and landslides caused by extreme weather conditions since November 16.

India launched Operation Sagar Bandhu and sent two urban search and rescue teams comprising 80 NDRF personnel to the island nation, reaffirming the spirit of ‘Neighbourhood First’.

Separately, it was announced on Tuesday (December 2) that Sri Lanka will allow flood relief items free of customs duties and levies under the condition that they are consigned in the name of the Director General Disaster Management or the Secretary to the Defense Ministry.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s Road Development Authority said that 256 roads of both A and B grades have been damaged in the disaster, including 15 main bridges.

A whopping 14,66,615 people of 4,07,594 families have been affected by the disaster.

India on Friday (November 28, 2025) delivered essential relief supplies to cyclone-battered Sri Lanka with Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveying to the island nation that New Delhi stands ready provide more aid to it to deal with the situation.

New Delhi launched “Operation Sagar Bandhu” to assist Sri Lanka in its hour of crisis and the first tranche of relief materials were handed after the consignments were transported by Indian Navy’s aircraft carrier INS Vikrant and frontline ship INS Udaigiri.

At least 56 people have been killed in Sri Lanka due to floods and landslides.

Over 43,900 people from 12,313 families have been hit by the extreme weather conditions, according to Sri Lankan authorities.

“My heartfelt condolences to the people of Sri Lanka who have lost their loved ones due to Cyclone Ditwah. I pray for the safety, comfort and swift recovery of all affected families,” PM Modi said on social media.

In solidarity with our closest maritime neighbour, India has urgently dispatched relief materials and vital humanitarian assistance and disaster relief support under “Operation Sagar Bandhu”, he said.

“We stand ready to provide more aid and assistance as the situation evolves. Guided by India’s Neighbourhood First policy and Vision MAHASAGAR, India continues to stand firmly with Sri Lanka in its hour of need,” he added.

PM Modi announced the MAHASAGAR or Mutual And Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions vision for India’s engagement with the Global South during his visit to Mauritius in March.

Separately External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar announced launching of ‘Operation Sagar Bandhu’ to help Sri Lanka deal with deaths and destruction caused by Cyclone Ditwah.

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“Operation Sagar Bandhu commences. INS Vikrant and INS Udaigiri hand over relief material at Colombo. Further steps are underway,” he said.

India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant, and latest indigenous stealth frigate INS Udaygiri are in Sri Lanka to participate at a three-day International Fleet Review (IFR) that began on Thursday (November 27, 2025).

The event is being hosted to mark the Sri Lanka Navy’s 75th anniversary. It features participation of naval ships from several countries.

Sri Lankan defence officials said INS Vikrant was formally requested for use of its aircraft for ongoing rescue and relief operations for the cyclone relief operations.