The Indian Army’s Engineer Task Force has successfully built the third Bailey Bridge in Sri Lanka, measuring 120 feet. It is located at KM 15 on the B-492 Highway in the Central Province. This new bridge reconnects the Kandy and Nuwara Eliya districts. The road link had been blocked for over a month after Cyclone Ditwah caused widespread damage. The Indian Army announced on social media platform X, "The Indian Army’s Engineer Task Force, after successfully launching two critical Bailey bridges in the Jaffna and Kandy regions, has constructed the third Bailey Bridge of length 120 feet at KM 15 on the B-492 Highway in Sri Lanka’s Central Province." They added, "Linking the Kandy and Nuwara Eliya districts, the bridge will restore a vital lifeline which was cut off for over a month in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah. This effort reaffirms India’s steadfast commitment to Sri Lanka and the Neighbourhood First policy." This bridge follows earlier projects completing two Bailey bridges in Jaffna and Kandy. These efforts restored important road connections and improved access to essential services for communities hit by the cyclone. Cyclone Ditwah struck Sri Lanka late last year, causing flooding, landslides, and major infrastructure damage. Operation Sagar Bandhu was launched by India in November 2025 to provide emergency help and repair vital roads, bridges, and services. The Indian Army's swift work on the B-492 highway not only made daily life easier for locals but also strengthened bilateral goodwill. India’s Neighbourhood First policy supports friendly ties with neighbouring countries including Sri Lanka. The policy focuses on development projects that improve connectivity and cooperation. Further enhancing relations, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla recently met with Sri Lanka Parliament Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne during the Commonwealth Conference in New Delhi. Birla said on X, "Recalled our earlier interactions and the strong, time-tested bonds between India and Sri Lanka, rooted in close friendship, mutual support, and shared democratic traditions. Our discussions highlighted close Parliament-to-Parliament cooperation, including regular exchanges, formation of friendship groups, and collaboration in policy and programme design." He also noted talks on "deeper engagement in technology-driven parliamentary innovation, including AI-enabled systems, real-time multilingual translation, and capacity building through PRIDE." Birla expressed hope that strong people-to-people and cultural links like Bodh Gaya pilgrimage would continue to strengthen India-Sri Lanka relations.