Cyclone in Sri Lanka: Department-led team of experts arrives in Colombo
Deployed under the Union Civil Protection Mechanism, the mission will assess the damage to the country’s infrastructure
An Italian team from the Civil Protection Department, the Italian Red Cross, the ReLuis Consortium, and the Ferrovie dello Stato Group has arrived in Sri Lanka to support local authorities following Cyclone Ditwah, which caused hundreds of deaths and extensive damage across the country.
The mission, part of the Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM) and coordinated by the Civil Protection Department, is a technical assessment mission aimed at evaluating, through expert inspections, the cyclone's impact on the country's infrastructure and related intervention needs.
As one of its first activities, the team attended a meeting with representatives from Sri Lanka's road authority, railway company, geological service, and dam service, during which each administration outlined its priorities. The meeting was also attended by the Italian Embassy and representatives of the European Commission.
Building on the rescue efforts undertaken during the 2004 tsunami, this initiative renews Italy's support and commitment to Sri Lanka.