(Lanka-e-News -01.Dec.2025, 10.20 PM) As Sri Lanka continues to grapple with the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah, the Chinese Embassy in Colombo has issued a formal statement outlining Beijing’s immediate assistance to the island. The storm, which triggered severe floods and widespread landslides, has left hundreds dead, displaced thousands, and inflicted catastrophic damage on homes, infrastructure, and livelihoods across the country.
In its statement, the Embassy expressed China’s solidarity with Sri Lanka during what it described as “a time of immense grief and hardship.” It added that the “people of China share the sorrow of those affected,” acknowledging the tragic scale of human loss and the immense challenge of recovery.
Beijing’s initial response has come through the Red Cross Society of China, which has released USD 100,000 in emergency cash assistance to the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society to support ongoing relief operations. According to the Embassy, additional emergency aid from the Chinese government is already being prepared and is expected to be dispatched in the coming days.
The support reflects the long-standing disaster-relief cooperation between the two nations, with China often stepping in during Sri Lanka’s moments of crisis—from tsunamis to the recent economic collapse.
Alongside the official contribution, the Chinese business community and expatriates living in Sri Lanka have launched their own relief efforts. The Chinese Chamber of Commerce and the Overseas Chinese Association initiated fundraising campaigns within hours of the disaster, collectively raising LKR 10 million for affected families and hard-hit regions.
Diplomatic sources say further contributions are likely as community-led drives continue.
In an unusual but pointed show of political confidence, the Chinese Embassy praised the response of the Sri Lankan government, stating that Beijing is “confident that, under the firm leadership of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, and with the collective support of the international community, the valiant Sri Lankan people will overcome the disaster.”
This endorsement came as Sri Lankan authorities, supported by the military and emergency services, continued large-scale rescue and relief operations across submerged districts. With communication lines down in several rural areas, helicopters, boats, and heavy engineering units have been deployed to retrieve stranded families and restore basic infrastructure.
China’s pledges join a growing list of relief commitments from global partners. Neighbouring countries, international agencies, and large humanitarian organisations have begun mobilising supplies ranging from medical equipment to emergency shelters and water purification systems.
The Sri Lankan government has welcomed these efforts, noting that rebuilding will require not only humanitarian aid but also longer-term international support once the full extent of the destruction is assessed.
With hundreds of villages inundated and major roads still cut off by landslides, the coming days are expected to be critical. Aid agencies warn that food shortages, disrupted schooling, and the risk of waterborne disease could worsen an already dire humanitarian situation.
For now, the statement from the Chinese Embassy represents one of the first significant international responses to the unfolding crisis. As relief efforts accelerate, Sri Lanka’s ability to recover will depend heavily on the combined support of global partners—and on the resilience of its people.
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by (2025-12-01 16:57:40)
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