May 16, 2023
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As Sri Lanka continues to grapple with an unexpected economic crisis, India sent humanitarian assistance consignment that is worth more than Rs 2 billion to the country, which arrived in Colombo on Sunday. Gopal Baglay, the High Commissioner of India based in Colombo, had handed over the consignment to the senior officials of the Sri Lankan government, reported Colombo Page.
The consignment is composed of about 9,000 metric tons of rice, 50 metric tons of milk powder, and more than 25 metric tons of drugs as well as other kinds of pharmaceutical supplies.
Thiru M.K Stalin, the Tamil Nadu CM, had flagged off the humanitarian consignment on 18 May from the Chennai port. This is the first-ever incoming consignment by the Government of Tamil Nadu under a commitment of 500 metric tons of milk powder, 40,000 metric tons of rice, and medicines.
The consignment is going to be distributed among beneficiaries across the island country by the government, per Colombo Page report. The beneficiaries include Central, Western, Northern, and Eastern provinces, covering major sections of the society.
Besides, various Indian social and private organizations have aided Sri Lanka to meet urgent needs. Such support for Sri Lanka is in addition to the Indian government’s economic assistance of about USD 3.5 billion since January 2022.
Earlier, the Indian government sent out dry rations, medicines, and other essential commodities to Sri Lanka on a grant basis per the report from Colombo Page.
In the meantime, Sri Lanka is encountering the most critical economic crisis since independence with heavy fuel and food shortages, power cuts, and soaring prices, impacting a significant number of people, resulting in huge protests regarding the government’s handling of the situation.
India is gradually becoming a more mutually beneficial and stronger partner to Sri Lanka. Besides assistance during the fertilizer chaos and ongoing pandemic, in which India had sent nano fertilizers to help Sri Lankan farmers, New Delhi has further pledged about USD 3 billion to a cash-strapped Colombo via credit lines for essential supplies, currency swaps, and loan repayment from January this year to help Sri Lanka during the worst financial crises of all times.
Reference: thehindu.com
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