Sri Lanka has requested Chinese assistance to rebuild infrastructure damaged by Cyclone Ditwah, which killed at least 641 people, Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath said. The request came during talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who visited Colombo on Monday.
Herath specifically sought help with reconstructing roads, railways, and bridges affected by the cyclone. Wang reportedly assured his “personal intervention” to support Sri Lanka’s recovery efforts. The discussions also covered trade, investment, and tourism cooperation between the two countries.
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The request follows India’s pledge of $450 million in humanitarian aid for cyclone recovery, highlighting growing regional support. Cyclone Ditwah impacted more than 10% of Sri Lanka’s 22 million population, with the World Bank estimating $4.1 billion in physical damage.
Both China and India are competing for influence in Sri Lanka, a strategically located South Asian nation with the only deep-sea ports between Dubai and Singapore. The island has become a key geopolitical hotspot in the region.
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The Chinese embassy in Colombo has not yet commented on the aid request. Sri Lanka aims to rebuild critical infrastructure quickly to restore normalcy for affected communities and bolster its economy.