New Delhi [India], January 31 (ANI): As reconstruction efforts continue in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah, India has dispatched a consignment of 10 Bailey bridges to Colombo aboard INS Gharial to help restore critical connectivity across Sri Lanka.
Sharing details in a post on X, the Ministry of External Affairs said the supply of bridges is part of India’s USD 450 million Special Economic Package announced during External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s recent visit to Sri Lanka. The ministry said the consignment was sent from Visakhapatnam and follows India’s earlier emergency humanitarian assistance and disaster relief support under Operation Sagar Bandhu.
Cyclone Ditwah, which struck Sri Lanka late last year, caused widespread flooding, landslides, and extensive damage to infrastructure, overwhelming local disaster-response mechanisms and disrupting transport links in several regions.
Earlier this month, the Indian Army’s Engineer Task Force successfully constructed a third Bailey bridge, measuring 120 feet, at Kilometer 15 on the B-492 Highway in Sri Lanka. Located in the Central Province, the bridge reconnects the Kandy and Nuwara Eliya districts, restoring a vital link that had remained disrupted for more than a month following the cyclone.
The effort followed the earlier successful construction of two Bailey bridges in the Jaffna and Kandy regions. Together, these engineering works have restored road connectivity, improved access to essential services, and provided much-needed relief to communities affected by the disaster.
Operation Sagar Bandhu, launched in November 2025, enabled India to deliver urgent humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, including the restoration of roads, bridges, and essential services. By reestablishing connectivity along key routes, the Indian Army has facilitated daily life for affected communities while also strengthening bilateral ties and goodwill between India and Sri Lanka.
The initiative underscores India’s commitment to Sri Lanka under its Neighbourhood First policy, which emphasizes friendly and mutually beneficial relations with neighboring countries. Under this policy, India remains an active development partner across South Asia, focusing on enhanced connectivity, improved infrastructure, development cooperation, regional stability, and stronger people-to-people ties.
About The Author
