High Commission of India
Colombo

PRESS RELEASE

Over 1,000 Tonnes of Indian Humanitarian Aid Reach Sri Lanka under Operation Sagar Bandhu

Under Operation Sagar Bandhu, India’s multi-dimensional humanitarian support to Sri Lanka continues across land, sea, and air, providing timely rescue, relief, and medical assistance.

Summary of Operation Sagar Bandhu until Dec 7, 2025:

2.       Since the launch of Operation Sagar Bandhu on Nov 28, India has provided about 1058 tonnes relief material including dry rations, tents, tarpaulins, hygiene kits, essential cloths, water purification kits and about 4.5 tonnes medicines and surgical equipment. Another 60 tonnes of equipment including generators, inflatable rescue boats, Out Board Motors, excavators etc. have also been brought to Sri Lanka. On 28th Nov, INS Vikrant and INS Udaygiri provided immediate rescue and relief assistance to Sri Lanka. INS Sukanya followed on 1 Dec, 2025 and brought in a further urgent relief material. On 29 Nov, 2025, two columns of National Disaster Response Force comprising 80 experts and K9 units with specially trained dogs arrived from India and assisted with immediate rescue and relief efforts. After completing search and rescue efforts, they returned to India on Dec 5, 2025. A full-fledged field hospital with 78 medical personnel was airlifted to Sri Lanka on Dec 2, 2025, which is now providing life-saving care, in Mahiyanganaya near Kandy, conducting surgeries, trauma care etc, catering to about 1000 patients daily. Medical centres have also been set up from the BHISHM Arogya Maitri cubes in the badly hit Ja-Ela region and in Negombo. 185 tonnes of Bailey Bridge units were airlifted to restore critical connectivity along with 44 engineers. First of these bridges is being constructed in Kilinochhi. Apart from the two Chetak helicopters deployed from INS Vikrant, two heavy lift, MI 17 helicopters of the Indian Air Force were deployed under the coordination of Sri Lankan authorities for rescue and relief work. These 2 MI 17s evacuated 264 survivors and airlifted about 50 tonnes of relief material between 29 Nov and 6 Dec. Further 4 Indian Naval Ships, LCU 54, LCU 57, LCU 51 and INS Gharial brought in relief material from Tamil Nadu weighing about 1000 tonnes, to Colombo and Trincomalee. In addition, about 2500 stranded Indians were evacuated from Sri Lanka, including more than 400 on IAF aircrafts.

Operation Sagar Bandhu on Dec 7, 2025:

3.       Under Operation Sagar Bandhu, the Government of Tamil Nadu has sent nearly 1,000 metric tonnes of essential food items and clothing to cyclone-hit Sri Lanka. Of this, about 300 metric tonnes arrived in Colombo yesterday (07) morning aboard three Indian Naval ships. The consignment was formally handed over by the High Commissioner of India, Shri Santosh Jha, to the Hon’ble Wasantha Samarasinghe, Minister for Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development of Sri Lanka, who expressed sincere appreciation for India’s timely and generous assistance. Another Indian Naval ship, INS Gharial, carrying the remaining approximately 700 metric tonnes of relief supplies, is reaching Trincomalee on Dec 8, 2025. The consignment includes essential food items such as rice, pulses, sugar, and milk powder, along with relief materials including bed sheets, tarpaulins, and clothing.

4.       In a virtual interaction yesterday (07) under Operation Sagar Bandhu, Shri D.K. Singh, Secretary (Revenue & Disaster Management) and Head of the Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA), briefed Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya, Chief Advisor to the President of Sri Lanka on Digital Economy &GovTech, on Odisha’s advanced disaster management framework, highlighting its robust digital backbone, early warning systems, and community-led disaster preparedness architecture. At the request of Sri Lanka’s Disaster Management Centre (DMC), another virtual meeting was held between the DMC leadership and ISRO’s National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), led by Dr. Prakash Chauhan, Director, NRSC, with the attendance of Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya and Major General (Retd.) Kotuwegoda, Director General, DMC. Since the onset of the crisis, ISRO has been providing crucial satellite-based maps to support Sri Lanka’s disaster response operations and will continue to extend full technical assistance as needed.

5.       The Indian Army Field Hospital established in Mahiyanganaya near Kandy has already provided critical medical care to over 2,200 patients affected by Cyclone Ditwah and successfully conducted 67 minor procedures along with 3 major surgeries. India’s medical teams on the ground remain fully committed to delivering timely, life-saving care and continued support to the people of Sri Lanka. Dr. Asela Gunawardene, DG Health Services, Sri Lanka visited the hospital yesterday (07).

6.       Two MI 17 helicopters of the Indian Air Force, which have been assisting Sri Lankan Air Force with rescue and relief operations have completed their Mission yesterday (07) and are leaving for India, after having evacuated 264 survivors and airlifted about 50 tonnes of relief material. Further assistance for rescue and relief efforts, will be arriving from India soon.

7.       Since the launch of Operation Sagar Bandhu, India’s assistance has continued to reach Sri Lanka across multiple fronts, reflecting the enduring spirit of friendship and solidarity between the two countries. India remains committed to supporting Sri Lanka during the ongoing recovery and reconstruction efforts.

***

Colombo

08 December 2025