The Minister of External Affairs of India, Dr. S. Jaishankar has arrived in Sri Lanka this evening (22) on an official state visit.
He was received by Deputy Minister of Tourism, Ruwan Ranasinghe, upon arrival in the country.
In a post on X, EAM said that he would meet Sri Lankan leadership on Tuesday.
“Landed in Colombo this evening. Thank Deputy @TourismMin Ruwan Ranasinghe for the warm reception. Look forward to my meetings with Sri Lankan leadership tomorrow.”
According to the Indian External Affairs Ministry, Minister Jaishankar is visiting Sri Lanka as Special Envoy of the Indian Prime Minister and will meet with the Sri Lankan leadership.
The Ministry noted the visit underscores India’s Neighbourhood First Policy and takes place in the context of Operation Sagar Bandhu launched to address the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah.
The visit follows India’s swift and extensive humanitarian response to Cyclone Ditwah, which struck Sri Lanka on 27 November 2025, triggering catastrophic floods and landslides that have claimed over 500 lives and affected millions.
India launched Operation Sagar Bandhu immediately after the cyclone made landfall, becoming the first nation to deploy specialised disaster responders. Within hours, Indian naval ships already in Colombo for a fleet review, including aircraft carrier INS Vikrant, handed over initial relief supplies.
Over the ensuing days, India airlifted tonnes of essentials via Indian Air Force aircraft, including tents, blankets, hygiene kits, medicines and modular trauma units known as BHISHM Cubes.
Elite National Disaster Response Force teams, equipped with search dogs, were deployed to hard-hit areas like Badulla and Gampaha, rescuing over 450 people from flooded homes and landslide debris.
Helicopters from INS Vikrant and IAF Mi-17s conducted sustained air rescues, evacuating vulnerable groups and delivering aid to isolated regions.
An Indian Army field hospital in Badulla district treated thousands, while engineers airlifted Bailey bridges to restore severed road links. Naval vessels later ferried hundreds of tonnes of dry rations, including contributions from Tamil Nadu, to ports in Colombo and Trincomalee.
Sri Lankan authorities have praised the operation’s speed and coordination, with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake describing the cyclone as the most challenging disaster in recent history.
Jaishankar’s visit is expected to focus on continued reconstruction support, reflecting India’s “Neighbourhood First” policy and shared maritime interests.
--With Agencies Inputs
