Sri Lanka welcomes India's continued support

FOREIGN Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Minister Vijitha Herath yesterday expressed Sri Lanka’s deep appreciation to India for its swift and comprehensive assistance following the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah.

- 

He described Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar’s visit to Colombo as a powerful reaffirmation of the enduring partnership between the two countries.

Welcoming Dr. Jaishankar in joint press briefing held at the Presidential Secretariat, Herath said the visit underscored India’s “steadfast solidarity” with Sri Lanka in a moment of national difficulty and reflected New Delhi's role as a first responder, particularly through the timely launch of Operation Sagar Bandu.

He conveyed Sri Lanka’s gratitude on behalf of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the Government and the people to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Government of India and Dr. Jaishankar personally.

The Minister said Dr.Jaishankar’s visit was particularly significant as it coincided with the announcement of a further Indian relief and reconstruction package to support Sri Lanka’s recovery and rebuilding efforts, which he described as yet another demonstration of India’s enduring friendship and solidarity.

Herath recalled that India had extended “unprecedented assistance amounting to $ 4 billion” to Sri Lanka during its recent economic crisis through lines of credit for essential goods and petroleum, bilateral currency support and liability deferments.