Russia has dispatched a planeload of humanitarian assistance to Sri Lanka as the country continues to recover from the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah in late November, Russia’s RIA news agency reported.
Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Moscow, Shobini Gunasekera, told the agency that a flight carrying 35 tonnes of relief supplies has already departed and is expected to arrive later today.
Cyclone Ditwah has been recorded as Sri Lanka’s deadliest natural disaster since the 2004 tsunami, claiming 635 lives and impacting nearly 10% of the population. The cyclone caused severe damage to vital infrastructure and key agricultural sectors, including rice and tea cultivation.
Authorities estimate that total recovery and reconstruction costs could reach as high as US$ 7 billion.
