The chief minister highlighted that around 60 Malayalis are stuck at Colombo’s Bandaranaike International Airport after their onward flights were cancelled due to cyclone-induced disruptions.
Published Nov 30, 2025 | 11:40 AM ⚊ Updated Nov 30, 2025 | 11:40 AM
Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan attacks media during press conference.
Synopsis: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan wrote to Union External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar seeking assistance for Malayalis stranded in Sri Lanka following the widespread devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Sunday, 30 November, intervened to assist Malayalis stranded in Sri Lanka following the widespread devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah.
In a letter to Union External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, the chief minister highlighted that around 60 Malayalis are stuck at Colombo’s Bandaranaike International Airport after their onward flights were cancelled due to cyclone-induced disruptions.
The intervention came in the wake of reports that several Indian passengers, including Malayalis returning to Kerala from Saudi Arabia, were left stranded at the Colombo airport as torrential rains and strong winds severely affected flight operations across the island nation.
According to the Non-Resident Keralites Affairs (NORKA) department, Indian citizens stranded in Sri Lanka can now seek help from an emergency assistance desk set up by the Indian High Commission at the Colombo airport.
Passengers in distress can also reach out via the helpline number +94 773727832, which is available on WhatsApp as well. The High Commission of India is providing essential supplies, including food and drinking water, to affected travellers.
Meanwhile, the High Commission of India in Colombo stated that Acting High Commissioner Dr Satyanjal Pandey met with the stranded passengers and assured them of all possible assistance.
He confirmed that the Government of India will ensure their early return, amid Sri Lanka’s ongoing crisis of floods, landslides, and severe service disruptions caused by Cyclone Ditwah.
Since Saturday, the rain triggered by Cyclone Ditwah has lashed Tamil Nadu’s coastal and delta districts, disrupting daily life in several regions. However, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said no landfall is expected.
A red alert is already in place in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Andhra Pradesh. Ramanathapuram and Nagapattinam districts were among the worst affected, with Rameswaram facing a second consecutive day of continuous rain and strong winds.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil with inputs from Dileep V Kumar.)
