The Disaster Management Center of Sri Lanka issued a statement on May 29, 2017, stating that the floods and landslides triggered by heavy rains in the country had killed 177 people, left 109 missing, and affected hundreds of thousands of families. After the disaster, the Sri Lankan government quickly sought assistance from the international community. According to a statement issued by the Sri Lankan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in order to help Sri Lanka combat floods and carry out disaster relief, the Chinese government provided emergency humanitarian aid materials worth 15 million yuan to Sri Lanka. Relief supplies urgently needed by Sri Lanka, including tents and blankets, will be transported to Sri Lanka in the shortest possible time.
The Blue Sky Rescue Team launched the rescue operation on May 31. Fifteen team members traveled to Sri Lanka to carry out rescue missions and all members returned safely on June 16. In this rescue operation, the members of the Blue Sky Rescue Team stayed in Sri Lanka for a total of 14 days.
During these 14 days and nights, the members of the Blue Sky Rescue Team overcame the harsh on - site environment, the shortage of supplies, endured leech bites, and persistently went out on missions 322 times. Their work covered areas such as debris clearance, river channel dredging, construction of temporary rain shelters, post - disaster disinfection, medical care, as well as the coordination, procurement, transportation, and distribution of emergency supplies. They did their utmost for post - disaster reconstruction, and made contributions to China's "Belt and Road Initiative" and to the friendship between China and Sri Lanka.
