ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif spoke with Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake over the phone on Tuesday, expressing solidarity with the country amid devastating floods.
According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s office, the premier expressed his profound grief over the devastating loss of life and widespread destruction caused by Cyclone Ditwah in Sri Lanka.
“The Prime Minister conveyed heartfelt condolences to the people and Government of Sri Lanka, especially the bereaved families who had lost their loved ones in the catastrophic floods and landslides that claimed hundreds of precious lives and displaced thousands of people across the island,” it said.
Sri Lanka’s Disaster Management Centre (DMC) on Tuesday said the official death toll had climbed to 410, while 336 people remain missing after a week of relentless monsoon rains.
More than 1.5 million people have been affected across the island nation, marking the worst devastation since the Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004.
Officials in several central districts warned that casualties could rise further as rescue teams continue to dig through deep mud and collapsed slopes in remote, landslide-hit areas.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, during the phone call, commended the swift response of the Sri Lankan authorities, military, and rescue teams in conducting relief operations under challenging conditions.
Recalling Pakistan’s own experiences with climate change–induced disasters, the Prime Minister reaffirmed that Pakistan stands in full solidarity with Sri Lanka during this challenging time.
He informed the Sri Lankan President that, as a gesture of support, Pakistan was immediately dispatching urgently needed humanitarian assistance to help the affected population recover from the devastation caused by the cyclone.
The Sri Lankan President expressed his gratitude for Pakistan’s timely support and solidarity, noting that Pakistan was among the first countries to respond with generous humanitarian aid.
Reflecting on their previous meetings, both leaders also reiterated their commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation across all sectors.
Earlier, Pakistan dispatched 200 tons of humanitarian aid to Sri Lanka in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah.
