Pakistan is facing strong diplomatic embarrassment after Sri Lankan authorities discovered that part of the emergency relief sent for Cyclone Ditwah victims included supplies that were already expired. What was supposed to be a gesture of help turned into public criticism when medical supplies, food packets, and basic relief items were found to be past their expiry date.

The situation drew immediate attention after the Pakistan High Commission in Sri Lanka posted photos online, proudly showing their relief supplies being delivered to the flood-affected communities. But people quickly noticed that many of the packages carried the label “EXP: 10/2024”, which clearly meant the products had expired in October 2024, over a year before being shipped out.

Several users, including well-known journalists, used social media to call out Pakistan for sending unusable items to a country suffering from floods and landslides. Despite the growing criticism, Islamabad has not yet issued any explanation or response related to the expired aid.

Pakistan again blames India for delaying Sri Lanka relief flight while facing criticism for old supplies

On Tuesday, Pakistan repeated its accusation that India was obstructing its relief mission to Sri Lanka. The country claimed that its humanitarian flight had been stuck for more than 60 hours because India was not giving the needed overflight permission. According to the Pakistan Foreign Office, “India continues to block humanitarian assistance from Pakistan to Sri Lanka. The special aircraft carrying Pakistan’s humanitarian assistance to Sri Lanka continues to face delays for over 60 hours now awaiting flight clearance from India.”

Pakistan further stated that India’s partial permission issued earlier was not usable. The ministry said the approval was “operationally impractical: time-bound for just a few hours and without validity for the return flight, severely hindering this urgent relief Mission for the brotherly people of Sri Lanka.”

Shortly after this claim, India rejected Pakistan’s comments as baseless. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal described it as “ridiculous” and “yet another attempt to spread anti-India misinformation.”

He explained that India received the overflight request only around 1:00 PM on December 1, 2025, and processed it the same day. According to him, “Given the urgency of the humanitarian assistance, the Government of India processed the request expeditiously the same day and granted overflight permission as per the proposed itinerary at 5:30 PM on December 1, 2025.”

Indian officials also dismissed media reports from Pakistan claiming that permission had been denied, calling them false. One official said Pakistani media was “indulging in propaganda and peddling fake news” and stressed that all requests were handled according to standard international procedures.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan High Commission in Sri Lanka came under more online criticism after it posted photos of the relief packages. The post said: “Relief packages from Pakistan have been successfully delivered to assist our brothers and sisters affected by the recent floods in Sri Lanka, which signifies our unwavering solidarity.” But users quickly noticed the same “10/2024” expiry date printed on some bags.

Cyclone Ditwah has caused severe flooding, landslides, and major infrastructure damage across Sri Lanka. Several districts are cut off, and the country’s disaster-response system is stretched beyond capacity. The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) reported 410 deaths and 336 people missing as of Tuesday morning due to the extreme weather.

Pakistan roasted by users over ‘expired’ supplies; viral screenshot shows 10/2024 date

A screenshot of a now-deleted post by the Pakistan High Commission has gone viral, showing relief packages bearing an expiry date of 10/2024. The images came from a post that read: “Relief packages from Pakistan have been successfully delivered to assist our brothers and sisters affected by the recent floods in Sri Lanka, which signifies our unwavering solidarity.”

Users quickly pointed out that the supplies appeared to be expired. Many accused Pakistan of using the aid mission to discard old stock. One of the widely shared comments stated: “Instead of disposing in garbage, Pakistan chose to send its expired food materials to flood-hit Sri Lanka.”

Another user humorously advised the High Commission not to enable comments to avoid more criticism: “Comments na kholen paijaan. [Don't open the comments, brother]”.

Amid the online backlash, a claim surfaced saying that the Pakistan Navy clarified the bags were old but the food inside was not. According to this explanation, the bags were only used for transport because they were already on the naval ship. A message by journalist Jamila Husain said: “They urgently needed bags and used some that were a backlog already on the ship. Pakistani Navy clarifies not to fall for fake agendas as they are committed to helping SL citizens.”

Cyclone Ditwah has brought heavy rains across Sri Lanka, causing flash floods and deadly landslides. Reports indicate that at least 410 people have been killed. In a fresh update, the Pakistan High Commission posted new photos with the message: “Pakistan has donated ration bags to the flood affected people through Gangarama Temple, Colombo today.”

India’s continued support strengthens Sri Lanka’s fight after Ditwah destruction

As Pakistan faces criticism for sending old supplies, India has been carrying out a wide humanitarian operation to support Sri Lanka under its “Neighbourhood First” approach. Under Operation Sagar Bandhu, India has delivered 53 tonnes of relief material through both air and sea since November 28. The supplies include tents, blankets, medicines, hygiene kits, surgical items, and two specialised BHISHM medical cubes.

India’s assistance goes beyond sending material supplies. The Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that more than 2,000 Indians stranded in Sri Lanka have been brought home safely. Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are on the ground conducting search and rescue operations and have already saved more than 150 people from hard-to-reach regions.

The Indian Air Force and Navy have deployed transport aircraft and several ships, including INS Vikrant, INS Udaygiri, and INS Sukanya. Helicopters such as the Navy’s Chetak and IAF’s MI-17 have been flying nonstop, rescuing stranded citizens, including pregnant women, infants, and injured people. Those saved include Sri Lankans, Indians, and international citizens from countries such as Germany, the UK, Australia, and Pakistan.

India’s Operation Sagar Bandhu continues to strengthen Sri Lanka’s struggle against the widespread devastation left by Cyclone Ditwah. According to the Disaster Management Centre, 465 deaths, 366 people missing, and over 1.55 million individuals affected have been reported across all 25 districts, with Kandy suffering the highest number of casualties. The scale of destruction has placed enormous pressure on Sri Lanka’s emergency systems, making external support crucial.

In the central province, Indian Air Force helicopter IFC 1875 carried out an important mission by delivering 2,000 kg of relief supplies to Mandaram Nuwara. During the same mission, the crew evacuated 17 people, including a heart patient, from Irunguwatta. Another sortie helped airlift 24 passengers, among them a pregnant woman, five children, and several foreign nationals, transporting them safely from Kotmale to Colombo. Meanwhile, helicopter IFC 1885 carried 2,000 kg of aid and 19 troops to Poramadulla, supporting efforts in another badly affected region.

A major medical boost arrived when an Indian C-17 aircraft landed carrying a field hospital along with more than 70 medical personnel. This mobile hospital will be deployed in Mahiyanganaya, where the main base hospital suffered heavy damage and is no longer fully functional.

India’s High Commissioner Santosh Jha also visited Sedawatta near Colombo to review National Disaster Response Force operations. NDRF teams are carrying out door-to-door evacuations in neighbourhoods submerged under 6 to 10 feet of water, ensuring they reach the elderly, the injured, and those unable to move on their own. On the previous day alone, NDRF teams rescued 43 people, and continuous efforts are underway to locate others still at risk.

Sri Lanka is experiencing one of its most severe flood disasters in decades. Cyclone Ditwah has caused catastrophic flooding and landslides, leaving more than 400 people reported dead or missing. As the island nation struggles with widespread damage and humanitarian needs, India responded quickly by launching Operation Sagar Bandhu and deploying teams from the NDRF and the Air Force for rescue and relief work.

Many Sri Lankans have expressed appreciation for India’s timely support. One Colombo resident shared a heartfelt message in a viral social media post, writing: “As a Sri Lankan, I just wanted to take a second to thank India, which has come forward to help Sri Lanka with not only goods, but also with helicopters for rescue operations.”

The user added another emotional line: “Your soldiers are doing God's work out there in the cyclone-affected Sri Lanka. Thank you, dear friend.”

Cyclone Ditwah made landfall on November 28, later moving back over the Bay of Bengal. The worst-hit districts include Gampaha, Colombo, Puttalam, and Mannar, along with Trincomalee and Batticaloa. Deadly landslides have also struck the central and hill regions of Kandy, Badulla, and Matale, causing widespread loss of life and destruction of homes.

‘India Is Always Ready’

As the Sri Lankan resident’s post went viral, many social media users responded by highlighting India’s long-standing commitment to helping neighbouring countries in moments of crisis.

One user wrote: “Welcome from India. Sri Lanka is an important and strategic country for India. India is always ready to help out nations needed help in humanitarian assistance whether the nation has an anti-India or a pro-India agenda.”

Another added a warm message: “Heyy, there...I just wanna say a heartfelt welcome.”

A third commenter expressed hope for Sri Lanka’s recovery: “I hope things improve and you all get relief from the cyclone's devastation, OP. Sending best wishes for you folks. Stay safe.”

A fourth person shared a humble reflection, saying: “No need to say thanks man, our country was dependent on others even for food 60 years ago. World evolves. Just support those who need it. Be it an individual or a country.”