 "Did Pakistan send expired goods to Sri Lanka as flood relief?")
As Sri Lanka picks up the pieces after Cyclone Ditwah, a fresh controversy has taken centre stage. Pakistan’s relief shipment, sent as a gesture of support, has come under fire after photos surfaced online showing cartons of food and supplies that appear to be past their expiry date.
The images quickly set off anger on social media, and Colombo has reportedly conveyed its displeasure to Islamabad through formal and informal channels, reports News18.
Sri Lanka is already battling a massive humanitarian crisis, over 400 lives lost, more than 350 people still missing, and a state of emergency declared by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who called the cyclone “the most challenging natural disaster in our history”.
India, meanwhile, has launched Operation Sagar Bandhu to support its neighbour with aid and relief assistance.
Here’s a closer look at what happened and how Pakistan’s aid has sparked such strong reactions.
Pakistan sends expired flood relief to Sri Lanka
The backlash began almost immediately after the Pakistan High Commission posted photos of its relief shipment to Sri Lanka on X. The images showed cartons of water, milk and biscuits being sent as assistance for communities battered by Cyclone Ditwah.
But what caught everyone’s attention were the labels. Several boxes appeared to carry the marking “EXP: 10/2024”, leading to a flood of criticism online and claims that Pakistan had sent expired food to a country in crisis.
Pakistan is sending expired food items for the cyclone struck Sri Lankans.
— Shubhangi Sharma (@ItsShubhangi) December 2, 2025
(Picture by the Pakistani High Commission in Sri Lanka) pic.twitter.com/r5YKkh6MRC
According to a News18 report, Sri Lankan officials were taken aback by the discovery and conveyed their displeasure to Pakistan through both formal and informal diplomatic channels. They also said this incident has pushed Colombo to rethink how incoming relief supplies are screened, especially from countries that have previously sent unsuitable or substandard aid.
Pakistan has faced similar criticism before. During the 2015 Nepal earthquake, it drew outrage for sending beef-based ready-to-eat meals to the Hindu-majority nation, a move that was widely slammed as insensitive.
This latest episode has sparked anger among Sri Lankans. Many have called the expired goods “an insult” and “a mockery of aid diplomacy,” with some urging their government to hold Pakistan accountable.
Islamabad has not commented on the allegations yet. There’s been no clarification on whether the dates were misprinted, misinterpreted or applied only to certain items in the shipment.
India steps up relief under Operation Sagar Bandhu
While Pakistan faces scrutiny over its relief supplies, India has launched a large-scale humanitarian mission to help Sri Lanka recover from Cyclone Ditwah.
As part of Operation Sagar Bandhu, India has sent more than 53 tonnes of relief materials since November 28, everything from food, tents and blankets to hygiene kits, essential medicines and surgical supplies. Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and Indian medical units have also been deployed to provide support on the ground.
The assistance has been delivered through both air and sea routes. Indian Air Force transport aircraft and Navy ships, including INS Vikrant, INS Udaygiri and INS Sukanya, have carried the bulk of the supplies. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar even shared a photo of INS Sukanya reaching Trincomalee with humanitarian aid.
INS Sukanya enters Trincomalee with relief materials.#OperationSagarBandhu pic.twitter.com/PIN1jHlXaB
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) December 1, 2025
India has also evacuated more than 2,000 stranded Indians from flood-hit parts of Sri Lanka, according to the Ministry of External Affairs. IAF helicopters have been crucial in rescue efforts, airlifting 57 Sri Lankan Army personnel from blocked hill regions like Kotmale, where landslides had cut off road access.
Among those rescued by the Mi-17 choppers were citizens from Germany, South Africa, Slovenia, the UK, Poland, Belarus, Iran, Australia and Bangladesh, and even a Pakistani national. Four infants were also evacuated.
Together in times of need.
— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) November 30, 2025
As part of India’s ongoing #OperationSagarBandhu, the Mi-17 helicopters of @IAF_MCC evacuated stranded people in Sri Lanka, including citizens from Germany, South Africa, Slovenia and United Kingdom.
🇮🇳 🤝 🇱🇰 🇩🇪 🇿🇦 🇸🇮 🇬🇧. https://t.co/z9OZ5p7691
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences to Sri Lanka, calling the cyclone’s impact “devastating” and reaffirming India’s support.
He said India had “urgently dispatched relief materials and vital HADR support under Operation Sagar Bandhu,” and added that New Delhi is ready to send more help as needed.
With input from agencies
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