Colombo

Indian Naval Ship Gharial on Wednesday docked in Colombo carrying 10 Bailey Bridges to support Sri Lanka’s reconstruction efforts following the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah, marking a significant step in India’s ongoing humanitarian assistance to the island nation.

Cyclone Ditwah, which struck Sri Lanka late last year, caused extensive damage to roads and transport infrastructure, severely disrupting civilian movement and relief operations. The modular Bailey Bridges are expected to help rapidly restore road connectivity, enabling emergency services and humanitarian aid to reach affected areas.

The delivery forms part of India’s Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) efforts and aligns with the USD 450 million Special Economic Package announced by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, underscoring India’s commitment to assisting neighbouring countries during crises.

The deployment highlights India’s role as a first responder in the Indian Ocean Region and reflects continued regional cooperation under Operation Sagar Bandhu, launched in November 2025 to provide emergency relief and infrastructure support following natural disasters.

Earlier this January, the Indian Army’s Engineer Task Force completed construction of a 120-foot Bailey Bridge at KM 15 on the B-492 highway in Sri Lanka’s Central Province. The bridge restored connectivity between Kandy and Nuwara Eliya, a vital route that had remained cut off for over a month due to cyclone damage.

The Army had earlier commissioned two Bailey bridges in the Jaffna and Kandy regions, collectively helping restore road access, improve delivery of essential services and provide relief to cyclone-affected communities.

Officials said the rapid restoration of connectivity along key routes has facilitated daily life, accelerated rehabilitation efforts and reinforced goodwill between India and Sri Lanka.

India’s assistance reflects its ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy, under which New Delhi prioritises close, cooperative and people-centric relations with neighbouring countries through development partnerships, infrastructure support, security cooperation and disaster relief.

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Under this policy, India remains actively engaged in development and humanitarian projects across South Asia, including Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Maldives and Myanmar, officials said.