December 18, Colombo (LNW): Following the devastating impact of Cyclone Ditwah, which triggered widespread flooding and landslides across Sri Lanka, Canada has announced substantial humanitarian support to assist affected communities.
On December 16, Randeep Sarai, Canada’s Secretary of State for International Development, confirmed an emergency funding package exceeding CAD $2 million to aid relief operations for thousands of families displaced or affected by the disaster.
The allocation of funds includes CAD $1.4 million to the World Food Programme to ensure immediate access to food supplies, and CAD $350,000 to World Vision Canada, enabling the provision of emergency shelters, essential relief items, and water, sanitation, and hygiene support.
A further CAD $215,000 will bolster the Sri Lanka Red Cross’s relief operations via the Emergency Disaster Assistance Fund, while nearly CAD $70,000 will be distributed through the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives to address urgent needs at the community level.
Canada also confirmed the activation of pooled humanitarian funds, including the UN Central Emergency Response Fund, the Red Cross Disaster Response Emergency Fund, and the WFP Immediate Response Account, to reinforce Sri Lanka’s overall disaster response.
Highlighting its ongoing partnership with Sri Lanka, Canada reiterated that in the 2024–2025 fiscal year it provided CAD $8.1 million in bilateral development assistance, underlining its long-term commitment to supporting recovery and resilience initiatives in the country.
