Jaishankar to visit Sri Lanka as Special Envoy of PM Modi on December 23

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will visit Sri Lanka as Special Representative of the Prime Minister on Tuesday, December 23, 2025 and meet Sri Lankan leaders. This was informed by the Indian High Commission in Colombo on Monday, December 22, 2025.

In the statement, it was stated that the visit underlined India’s Neighborhood First Policy and took place within the scope of Operation Sagar Bandhu, which was launched to eliminate the destruction caused by Cyclone Ditwah.

India was the first country to respond to Sri Lanka’s call for international assistance following the devastation caused by the cyclone.

India’s Operation ‘Sagar Bandhu’ has provided massive relief and rescue assistance.

Since the launch of Operation Sagar Bandhu on November 28, India has provided over 1,134 tonnes of humanitarian aid to Sri Lanka, including dry rations, tents, tarpaulins, hygiene kits, clothing, water purification systems and 14.5 tonnes of medicines and surgical equipment.

Indian Navy ships INS Vikrant, INS Udaygiri, INS Sukanya, LCU-54, LCU-57, LCU-51 and INS Gharial delivered large quantities of relief materials to Colombo and Trincomalee, apart from Indian Coast Guard Ship Shaurya.

While two teams of the National Disaster Response Force carried out emergency search and rescue operations, the 85-member Indian Army Field Hospital established at Mahiyanganaya provided life-saving medical care to over 7,000 patients.

Medical centers using BHISHM Arogya Maitri cubes were established in severely affected areas and 248 tonnes of Bailey Bridge components were airlifted along with 48 engineers to restore critical connectivity.

Indian Air Force and Navy helicopters evacuated survivors, transported soldiers and distributed relief supplies; this reflected India’s steadfast commitment to Sri Lanka at a time of crisis.

(With inputs from PTI)