Carrying the relief items, 'BNS Bangabandhu', which will also join the rescue efforts there, left the navy's Issa Khan Base in Chittagong on Tuesday afternoon, bdnews24.com reported.

The items include lifesaving drugs, water purifying machines, pure drinking water, tents, food items and generators.

The ship is scheduled to arrive at the Port of Colombo on Jun 5 and will stay there for three days. It is scheduled to return to Chittagong on Jun 11.

About 300,000 Sri Lankans were affected by floods and landslides caused by cyclone Roanu on May 19. Over 200 people were also killed.

Following directives of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh first extended emergency humanitarian support to Sri Lanka last week responding to their call for aid to the international community.

Before 'BNS Bangabandhu' left, Commander of Chittagong Naval Area Rear Admiral Akhtar Habib at a press briefing at Issa Khan Base said a special Bangladesh Air Force aircraft had taken relief items to Sri Lanka on May 27.

"Now we are sending BNS Bangabandhu in the second phase following the prime minister's orders."

Habib said, "We have many limitations. But we never back off from helping others suffering from calamities. We'll stand beside Sri Lanka in recovering from their losses."

Sri Lankan High Commissioner to Dhaka Yasoja Gunasekara told the media call that the extent of losses her country has suffered was around Rs. 300 billion.

Apart from the dead and injured, scores are still missing as 19 districts remain affected by the floods, she said.

Gunasekara also thanked Prime Minister Hasina for sending the aid for the flood-affected people of her country.