India’s Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Anupriya Patel, has reaffirmed India’s commitment to providing continuous support for Sri Lanka’s disaster management and reconstruction efforts following the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditva.

The assurance was given during a bilateral meeting between Minister Patel and Sri Lanka’s Minister of Health and Media, Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, held on Thursday (December 19) in New Delhi. The discussion took place on the sidelines of the Second WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine, organized by the World Health Organization in collaboration with India’s Ministry of Ayush.

Highlights of the Bilateral Meeting

During the session, both ministers discussed the enduring strength of the India-Sri Lanka partnership. Minister Patel emphasized that Sri Lanka remains at the core of India’s “Neighbourhood First” policy. She noted that India’s assistance under Operation Sagar Bandhu—which included the deployment of search and rescue teams, medical units, and essential supplies—would transition into long-term support for reconstruction and resilience.

Key areas of cooperation discussed include:

• Health Sector Synergy: Expanding collaboration in traditional medicine and pharmaceutical supply chains.

• Digital Transformation: Minister Jayatissa requested Indian technical expertise to strengthen Information Technology (IT) frameworks within Sri Lanka’s healthcare system and government operations.

• Disaster Recovery: A commitment to assist in rebuilding critical infrastructure damaged by the recent floods and landslides.

Sri Lanka’s Appreciation

Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa expressed the profound gratitude of the Sri Lankan government and its people for India’s role as the “First Responder” during the emergency. He specifically commended the swift dispatch of Indian Naval ships, IAF aircraft, and NDRF teams that saved lives in the immediate aftermath of the cyclone.

About the Global Summit

The 2nd WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine (December 17–19) brought together delegates from over 100 countries to discuss evidence-based integration of traditional practices into modern health systems. The summit also saw the launch of the WHO Traditional Medicine Global Library, a digital platform aimed at sharing ancestral knowledge and scientific research.