The Indian Army has completed construction of a 240-foot Extra Wide Reinforced Hybrid Bailey Bridge at Chilaw, Sri Lanka, reopening a critical transport link damaged by Cyclone Ditwah. The bridge, located approximately 70 kilometres north of Colombo, is the fourth structure completed under Operation Sagarbandhu — India’s ongoing humanitarian and disaster relief mission in Sri Lanka.

The restored crossing reconnects the Colombo–Puttalam route. Relief trucks and civilian vehicles are moving through again.

The Chilaw bridge uses an Extra Wide Reinforced Hybrid Bailey design, built to carry heavier vehicles. That was a deliberate call — the route handles commercial freight and relief convoys, and a lighter temporary structure would not have held up under that load.

Sri Lanka’s Defence Ministry welcomed the development, saying the restored link will accelerate aid distribution and help revive economic activity across cyclone-affected areas. The bridge will remain operational under joint Indian and Sri Lankan supervision until permanent infrastructure is constructed.

Operation Sagarbandhu was launched following the widespread destruction Cyclone Ditwah caused across Sri Lanka’s road and bridge network. Since then, Indian Army Engineer Task Force teams have worked across multiple locations, rebuilding damaged crossings and restoring supply routes to coastal communities that had been cut off from inland logistics hubs. Three bridges were completed before Chilaw. More teams remain on standby as damage assessments continue across the country.

The mission also sits within a broader context. India and Sri Lanka have steadily expanded defence cooperation in recent years, covering disaster response, military training, and maritime security. Operation Sagarbandhu is the most visible expression of that relationship right now.

Officials from India’s Ministry of External Affairs and Defence Ministry confirmed the operation will continue until all critical infrastructure gaps are addressed. No timeline for conclusion has been announced.