Canada Pledges Over $2M in Emergency Aid to Sri Lanka

COLOMBO (News 1st); In the wake of Cyclone Ditwah, which unleashed catastrophic flooding and landslides across Sri Lanka, claiming lives and destroying homes and infrastructure, Canada has stepped forward with a major humanitarian pledge.

On 16th December, Randeep Sarai, Secretary of State (International Development), announced over CAD $2 million in emergency funding to support relief efforts for thousands of families affected by the disaster.

The funding is allocated as follows:

$1.4 million to the World Food Programme (WFP) to provide immediate access to food for affected households.

$350,000 to World Vision Canada, a member of the Humanitarian Coalition, to provide relief items and emergency shelters, along with water, sanitation and hygiene services, through the Canadian Humanitarian Assistance Fund.

$215,000 to support the Sri Lanka Red Cross’s ongoing relief operations through the Emergency Disaster Assistance Fund, which is administered by the Canadian Red Cross.

Nearly $70,000 provided through the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives to deliver emergency relief.

Canada also confirmed that pooled humanitarian funds, to which it contributes, have been activated to bolster Sri Lanka’s response.

These include allocations from:

The UN Central Emergency Response Fund

The Red Cross Disaster Response Emergency Fund

The WFP Immediate Response Account

In addition, Canada reaffirmed its long-term commitment, noting that in the 2024–2025 fiscal year, it provided CAD $8.1 million in bilateral development assistance to Sri Lanka.