India has dispatched a further consignment of 10 Bailey bridges to Sri Lanka to support ongoing reconstruction efforts following the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah.

The bridges were transported to Colombo aboard the Indian Navy vessel INS Gharial as part of India’s Special Economic Package of USD 450 million, announced during the recent visit of Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar to Sri Lanka. The initiative follows India’s earlier emergency Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) support provided under Operation Sagar Bandhu.

Cyclone Ditwah, which struck Sri Lanka late last year, caused widespread flooding, landslides and extensive damage to infrastructure, severely disrupting transport networks and overwhelming local disaster-response mechanisms.

Earlier this month, the Indian Army’s Engineer Task Force successfully completed construction of a 120-foot Bailey bridge at KM 15 along the B-492 Highway in Sri Lanka’s Central Province. The bridge restored a vital link between the Kandy and Nuwara Eliya districts, which had remained cut off for over a month after the cyclone.

This followed the earlier completion of two Bailey bridges in the Jaffna and Kandy regions. Together, these projects have helped restore road connectivity, improved access to essential services, and provided relief to communities affected by the disaster.Launched in November 2025, Operation Sagar Bandhu enabled India to deliver urgent assistance, including the restoration of roads, bridges and other critical services. The continued support has contributed to rebuilding efforts while further strengthening cooperation and goodwill between India and Sri Lanka.