The interim government has decided to send relief materials and a rescue team to Sri Lanka on December 3 as the death toll from devastating floods and mudslides in the South Asian nation has risen to more than 330 amid one of its worst weather disasters in years.

Following directives from Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, the relief supplies and rescue team will be dispatched on an urgent basis (if weather permits) via two special Bangladesh Air Force flights, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Monday.

The Chief Adviser’s Office, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, the Ministry of Health, the Armed Forces Division, BGMEA, and Essential Drugs Company Limited are jointly coordinating the effort.

At least 355 people have died and 366 remain missing due to flash floods and landslides triggered by Cyclone Ditwa. More than 20,000 houses have been damaged, and approximately 210,000 people have been evacuated to temporary shelters.

Sri Lanka has declared a state of emergency in response to the crisis and appealed to the international community for assistance.

Bangladesh has a history of responding swiftly to natural and humanitarian disasters in South Asian countries and has previously extended similar support.