Days after India sent 15,000 liters of kerosene to Sri Lanka on Saturday to help 700 fishermen and electric ferry services in the Tamil-dominated city of Jaffna, it delivered nearly 40,000 metric tonnes of petrol to the debt-ridden island nation, one of the worst-hit. Struggling with the situation. Economic Crisis.
India last month extended an additional $500 million line of credit to Sri Lanka to help the neighboring country import fuel as it seeks to pay for imports following a sharp fall in its foreign exchange reserves in recent days. is struggling, causing the devaluation of its currency and spiraling inflation. ,
“Continuous Indian aid to Sri Lanka. 15000 liters of kerosene were gifted to 700 fishermen from Delft, Nainativu, Eluvativu and Analitivu. Coast Guard Shri Rakesh Natraj with Fisheries Minister Hon. Douglas Devanand began distribution; Part of the consignment will also power the ferry service between the islands,” the Consulate General of India in Jaffna said in a tweet.
Read also | Sri Lankan PM Wickremesinghe appreciates India’s support to the troubled nation
India on Friday handed over 25 tonnes of medical supplies worth over USD 700,000 to Sri Lanka as part of ongoing efforts to help it tide over its worst economic crisis.
India on Monday said it delivered nearly 40,000 metric tonnes of petrol to Sri Lanka, days after it supplied 40,000 metric tonnes of diesel under an Indian line of credit to help ease the acute fuel shortage in the country.
Last week, India sent immediate relief supplies to Sri Lanka along with 9,000 metric tonnes (MT) of rice, 200 metric tonnes of milk powder and 24 metric tonnes of life-saving medicines with a combined value of Rs 45 crore.
On Friday, Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe lauded India’s support to his country during “this difficult period”.
Taking to Twitter, the Prime Minister said that he had a conversation with India’s Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday.
He wrote, “I commend my country for the support extended by India during this difficult period. I look forward to further strengthening the ties between our countries.”
Sri Lanka is going through the worst economic crisis since independence in 1948.
Severe shortage of foreign reserves has led to long queues for fuel, cooking gas and other essential items, while power cuts and rising food prices have irked people.
The economic crisis has also led to a political crisis in Sri Lanka and calls for the resignation of the powerful Rajapaksa.