Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha, said assistance has been requested from the Indian warship currently docked in Colombo, including the use of its aircraft for ongoing rescue and relief operations amid severe weather conditions, posed by Cyclonic Storm “Ditwah”

A formal request was made to the Indian High Commission in Colombo, he said during a special media briefing.

However, Thuyacontha noted that adverse weather is also affecting the Indian aircraft and flight operations may be limited due to current conditions.

“Due to the prevailing adverse weather, even the Indian pilots are currently unable to operate,” he said.

He further said that a special meeting with foreign envoys based in Sri Lanka has been scheduled for this evening, during which the government plans to brief them on the current situation and the support required for continued disaster response efforts. (Newswire)