NEW DELHI, Dec 23 (KUNA) -- Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Tuesday held talks with Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya and other senior officials on restoration and relief efforts following the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah.
India acted promptly as Sri Lanka's closest neighbour in line with its Neighbourhood First and MAHASAGAR policies, Jaishankar said at a joint press conference with Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath during his two-day official visit to Sri Lanka.
India started the assistance on the day the cyclone made landfall, a statement from the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, quoted the minister as saying.
He said Indian naval vessels delivered relief supplies, Indian Air Force helicopters conducted operations for over two weeks, an 80-member National Disaster Response Force carried out rescue missions, and an Indian Army field hospital provided emergency medical care to more than 8,000 people.
Jaishankar added that India delivered over 1,100 tonnes of relief materials, including food rations, tents, tarpaulins, hygiene kits, clothing, and water purification equipment.
He said India also proposed a USD 450 million assistance package, comprising USD 350 million in concessional lines of credit and USD 100 million in grants, to support infrastructure rehabilitation, housing, health and education, agriculture, and disaster preparedness.
During the visit, Jaishankar also met Sri Lankan Health and Media Minister Nalinda Jayatissa, Labour Minister Anil Jayantha Fernando, and members of the Indian business community in Sri Lanka. (end) atk.ara