President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has expressed Sri Lanka’s deep appreciation to the United Arab Emirates for its swift humanitarian assistance to communities affected by recent floods and heavy rainfall across the country.

The President conveyed his gratitude during a telephone conversation held today (19) with UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, thanking the UAE for its continued support to Sri Lanka during times of crisis.

During the call, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed extended his heartfelt condolences to President Dissanayake and the people of Sri Lanka over the loss of lives caused by the floods, and conveyed his best wishes for the country’s safety and resilience as it addresses the challenges posed by the disaster. He also informed President Dissanayake that the UAE would dispatch a team to Sri Lanka to assess the extent of the damage and determine the nature of assistance required, in line with the long-standing friendship between the two nations.

The UAE President reaffirmed his country’s commitment to standing with Sri Lanka, noting that the assistance reflects the UAE’s longstanding humanitarian policy of providing timely support to countries affected by natural disasters and emergencies, with a focus on both immediate relief and long-term recovery.

Emergency relief operations were swiftly launched through the Joint Operations Command, the UAE Agency for International Aid and the Emirates Red Crescent. These efforts included search and rescue operations in the worst-affected areas by teams from the Abu Dhabi Civil Defence, as well as the delivery of essential food supplies and emergency shelter materials for displaced families.

Sri Lankan authorities welcomed the UAE’s prompt response, describing it as a significant contribution to ongoing relief efforts and a testament to the strong and enduring relationship between Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates.