Sri Lanka, Dec. 29 -- As India recently announced a US$ 450 million "reconstruction package" for Sri Lanka, to help the island nation recover from the devastating impact of Cyclone Ditwah, Sri Lanka's High Commissioner to India, Mahishini Colonne, has praised India's long-standing support to Sri Lanka, saying its consistent assistance during times of crisis has emerged as a model for the Indian Ocean and the wider Indo-Pacific region.

In an exclusive interview with ANI on Friday (26), Colonne described the recent visit of External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to Sri Lanka-just weeks after Operation Sagar Bandhu-as deeply meaningful and timely. She said the visit reassured both the Sri Lankan government and its people that India stands ...