New DelhiPrime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday held a telephonic conversation with Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and expressed condolences to him over the loss of life caused by Cyclone Ditwah in the island nation. Dissanayake was reassured by the prime minister that India stands firmly in solidarity with Sri Lanka and will keep helping it.
According to a statement from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), Dissanayake expressed gratitude to PM Modi for India's prompt deployment of rescue teams and supplies to Sri Lanka. According to the PMO, he also expressed the "appreciation of the people of Sri Lanka" for India's prompt and efficient response efforts.
The PMO stated that the two leaders have decided to stay in "close touch" and that "Prime Minister assured President Dissanayake of India's continued support to Sri Lanka under the ongoing Operation Sagar Bandhu, providing rescue and relief to distressed persons."
"He assured that India, in line with its Vision MAHASAGAR and its established position as the ‘First Responder’, will continue to extend all necessary assistance in the coming days as Sri Lanka undertakes rehabilitation efforts, resumes public services, and works toward restoring livelihoods across the impacted regions," it added.
Sri Lanka was battered by Cyclone Ditwah, which has claimed more than 360 lives there. The Sri Lankan government claims that Kandy district, where 88 fatalities have been reported thus far, continues to be the most severely affected. Nuwara Eliya and Badulla are two more districts that have been impacted, with 75 and 71 fatalities, respectively.
The devastation has forced the Sri Lankan government, which is also in talks with the World Bank to conduct a Global Rapid Post-Disaster Damage Estimation (GRADE), to set up a special fund with public and private sector participation to help the country recover.
Sri Lanka's Disaster Management Centre expects that showers will continue Northern, Western, Sabaragamuwa and Southern provinces for the next 36 hours, advising people to take all necessary precautions. Conversely, India has intervened and started Operation Sagar Bandhu, giving the island nation everything it needs, including relief supplies.
Everyone is on Cyclone Ditwah