The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has scaled up its emergency response in Sri Lanka following the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah, thanks to a generous AUD 1.5 million contribution from the Government of Australia. This support is enabling WFP to deliver life-saving fortified food and provide cash assistance to families most affected by the disaster, Australian High Commission said in a release yesterday.

It said: The first airlift of fortified biscuits – 10 metric tonnes from WFP’s humanitarian hub in Dubai arrived in Sri Lanka, with upto 67 metric tonnes expected in the coming days. WFP has already dispatched fortified biscuits to Nuwara Eliya and Kegalle. Further deliveries are planned for Badulla and Kandy, among the hardest-hit districts.

“Australia stands with Sri Lanka at this devastating time. We are proud to work closely with our longstanding humanitarian partner the WFP, as well as with the Sri Lankan government and local authorities, to rapidly respond to meet the urgent needs of those affected communities,” said Australia’s High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Matthew Duckworth.

WFP’s fortified biscuits provide a quick boost of energy and nutrition when families need it most.

“As rescue operations wind down, our priority is delivering life-saving fortified food to tackle immediate food needs of affected families, targeting especially those most at risk – children, older persons, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and people with disabilities, who often bear the brunt of such crises,” said Philip Ward, Representative and Country Director of the World Food Programme.

Australia’s contribution will also fund cash assistance programmes, complementing Government efforts to help families meet essential needs and rebuild their lives. WFP continues to appeal for additional donor support to sustain emergency operations and accelerate recovery for communities devastated by Cyclone Ditwah.

Opposition and SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa on Tuesday (09) had talks with Russian Ambassador Levan Dzhagaryan at the Opposition Leader’s Office, in Colombo, to discuss emergency relief for communities affected by Cyclone Ditwah.

Premadasa briefed the Ambassador on the scale of destruction and the hardships faced by residents, and sought Russia’s support to repair damaged railway lines, restore the road network, rebuild other key infrastructure and assist in resettling affected families.

He also conveyed Sri Lanka’s gratitude for the assistance already extended by Moscow during the crisis. Premadasa noted that further strengthening long-standing trade and cooperative ties between the two countries would bolster Sri Lanka’s broader recovery efforts as it grapples with economic strain.

Showers or thundershowers will occur in Northern, North-Central, Eastern, Central and Uva provinces today (11),the Met Department has said. Heavy rain falls above 100 mm are likely at some places in the Northern, North-Central and Eastern provinces. Fairly heavy falls, about 75 mm, are likely at some places in Central and Uva provinces.

Showers or thundershowers may occur at several places in the other areas of the country after 1.00 p.m. Fairly heavy falls above 50 mm are likely at some places in these areas.

Fairly strong winds of about (30-40) kmph can be expected at times over the Northern, North-Central and North-Western provinces and in the Trincomalee district and the Eastern slopes of the central hills.

Misty conditions can be expected at some places in the Sabaragamuwa, Central and Southern provinces during the early hours of the morning.

The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimise damages caused by temporary localised strong winds and lightning during thunderstorms.