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Russia sends aid to Sri Lanka after devastating cyclone

Published by Global Banking and Finance Review

Posted on December 9, 2025

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Dec ‌10 (Reuters) - Russia has sent ‍a planeload ‌of humanitarian aid to Sri ⁠Lanka after ‌the island nation was struck by Cyclone Ditwah in late November, ⁠Russia's RIA news agency reported early ​on Wednesday, citing Shobini Gunasekera, ‌Colombo's ambassador to ⁠Moscow.

"A plane carrying 35 tonnes of humanitarian aid has ​already departed for Sri Lanka," Gunasekera told the news agency, adding that it was expected ​to ‍arrive on ​Wednesday.

Ditwah, which was Sri Lanka's deadliest natural disaster since the devastating 2004 tsunami, killed 635 people and affected about 10% ⁠of the population. It damaged critical infrastructure ​and key crops such as rice and tea. Local officials warn that recovery ‌costs could reach $7 billion.

(Reporting by Maria Tsvetkova; Editing by Paul Simao)

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