Sri Lanka has been severely impacted by Cyclone Ditwah, which caused extensive flooding and landslides across the country. The disaster resulted in loss of life and widespread damage to homes and infrastructure, disrupting communities and local economies.
In response, Canada announced over $2 million in humanitarian assistance to support emergency relief efforts. This includes $1.4 million to the World Food Programme (WFP) to ensure immediate access to food for affected households, $350,000 to World Vision Canada for relief items, emergency shelters, and water, sanitation, and hygiene services, and $215,000 to the Sri Lanka Red Cross to support ongoing relief operations. An additional nearly $70,000 is provided through the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives to deliver emergency support.
Canadian officials emphasized their commitment to aid Sri Lanka during this crisis. Secretary of State (International Development) Randeep Sarai highlighted that the funding focuses on immediate relief while additional support will be assessed as recovery efforts progress. Minister of Public Safety Gary Anandasangaree noted the devastation faced by families and communities and reaffirmed Canada’s continued humanitarian support to help them recover and rebuild.
Canada’s response builds on its ongoing contributions to pooled humanitarian funds, including the UN’s Central Emergency Response Fund, the Red Cross’s Disaster Response Emergency Fund, and the WFP’s Immediate Response Account. In the 2024–2025 fiscal year, Canada provided $8.1 million in bilateral development assistance to Sri Lanka.
