Sri Lanka thanks Bangladesh for flood support, solidarity

Colombo counts over 400 deaths and hundreds missing as cyclone-triggered floods devastate the country

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya has thanked Bangladesh for extending support and solidarity as the island nation reels from fatal floods and landslides.

She spoke with Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus by phone around 7pm on Thursday, his office said in statement.

During the call, Yunus conveyed his condolences and deep sympathy for the bereaved families

He reaffirmed Bangladesh’s commitment to send additional emergency relief and specialist teams to assist Sri Lanka’s response to the disaster.

“We will be happy to do whatever is needed,” the interim prime minister said.

Amarasuriya told him her government was working to assess the scale of damage caused by days of heavy rainfall and extensive flooding, the statement said.

Yunus also invited the Sri Lankan leader to visit Bangladesh in the coming months, expressing interest in learning from Colombo’s political experience, it added.

Recent flooding and landslides triggered by Cyclone Dithwa have killed more than 400 people in Sri Lanka, while over 350 remain missing.

More than 20,000 homes were damaged and around 210,000 people were moved to temporary shelters.

The Sri Lankan government has already declared a state of emergency and appealed to the international community for swift support.

Bangladesh earlier sent relief supplies and a rescue team, while Yunus also conveyed a message of condolence following the scale of loss.