ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has dispatched 80 tons of relief items for Sri Lanka’s flood affected people, the Pakistan High Commission in Sri Lanka said on Thursday, as the island-nation reels from catastrophic deluges that have killed at least 479 people. 

Sri Lanka has been coping with losses from Cyclone Ditwah, which struck the country late November, triggering severe floods and landslides across the country. Authorities described the disaster as the worst flooding in decades that killed at least 479 people, with 336 still missing.

“In yet another bounteous gesture of humanitarian support NDMA in coordination with Sri Lankan airline has sent 80 Tons of humanitarian assistance in 4 trips,” the Pakistan High Commission said in a post on X.

The high commission said that the first of the four flights is expected to arrive from Pakistan’s eastern city of Lahore at Bandaranaike International Airport on Thursday evening. It said Pakistani charity organization Al Khidmat Foundation is also participating in flood relief assistance efforts to help the people of Sri Lanka as it reels from floods. 

Pakistan earlier dispatched 200 tons of humanitarian aid to the island nation by sea on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s directions this Tuesday. Islamabad had said India had refused to grant airspace clearance to a special Pakistani flight carrying relief goods for more than 60 hours. New Delhi dismissed the claim as “anti-India misinformation.”

Pakistan Navy ships and helicopters have already been taking part in rescue operations in Sri Lanka. Earlier this week, Pakistan Navy evacuated a family stranded on a rooftop in Sri Lanka for five days and moved them to safety.

Pakistan and Sri Lanka share friendly ties and cooperate in trade, defense, education, culture and sports, particularly cricket.