EAM Jaishankar Visits Sri Lanka as PM Modi's Special Envoy; India Announces USD 450 Million Reconstruction Package After Cyclone Ditwah

External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar visited Sri Lanka on December 23, 2025, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Special Envoy in the context of Operation Sagar Bandhu, launched to address the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah. During the visit Jaishankar announced a comprehensive USD 450 million reconstruction package for Sri Lanka, comprising USD 350 million in concessional Lines of Credit and USD 100 million in grants. He handed over a letter from Prime Minister Modi to Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and also met Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya, Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa. The reconstruction package covers rehabilitation of road, railway and bridge connectivity, reconstruction of fully destroyed and partially damaged houses, support for health and education infrastructure, agricultural restoration to address possible short and medium term shortages, and strengthening of disaster response and preparedness. Jaishankar framed the assistance within India's Neighbourhood First Policy and the MAHASAGAR framework, emphasising India's role as a first responder in the region. Under Operation Sagar Bandhu, India had already delivered approximately 1,100 tonnes of relief material and 14.5 tonnes of medicines and medical equipment; Indian Army engineers also inaugurated Bailey bridges at Kilinochchi to restore connectivity in northern Sri Lanka. The visit deepens the bilateral partnership at a time when Sri Lanka is reconstructing cyclone-hit districts.