Overview
- Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath asked China to help reconstruct roads, railways and bridges damaged by Cyclone Ditwah during talks in Colombo.
- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi assured his personal intervention and reaffirmed Beijing’s fullest support during a brief stopover, according to Sri Lankan officials.
- Cyclone Ditwah in November killed at least 641 people, affected more than 10 percent of the country’s 22 million population and caused about US$4.1 billion in physical damage, the World Bank estimates.
- India recently pledged US$450 million in humanitarian assistance for recovery, underscoring regional efforts to support Sri Lanka.
- The Chinese embassy in Colombo offered no immediate comment following the meeting, and the ministers also discussed cooperation in trade, investment and tourism.