With the support of New Delhi since January this year to Sri Lanka exceeding US $ 2.5 billion, India has responded to urgent requests from Colombo with timeliness, the Indian High Commissioner said to Sri Lanka. Amid a massive protest in Sri Lanka over the economic crisis, Gopal Baglay told Ani’s news agency that four shipments of more than 150,000 tons of flight jets, diesel and gasoline had arrived in the island country because both countries signed a $ 500 credit line million. in February,
He said five more shipments were following until May and another credit route of $ 1 billion for food, medicines and important items had been signed. Under new credit facilities, the first consignment of rice from India is expected to arrive at Sri Lanka “This facility, negotiated and concluded in a few weeks, has been proven to be the lifeline for the people of Sri Lanka at the time of imports by Sri Lanka difficult to be caused by the balance sheet of payment situation,” said Ani quoted the envoy.
Sri Lanka was under the national curfew after President Gotabaya Rajapaksa stated an emergency as a person, angered upon lack of important food, fuel and long power cuts, demanding the resignation of the former military officer. The island country is struggling to pay import due to large debt obligations and shrink foreign exchange reserves.
In addition to credit lines, India has extended the $ 400 million swap and a $ 500 million credit route for purchasing fuel to Sri Lanka. India has also suspended payments owed by the Sri Lanka Central Bank owe to Indian reserve banks under the Asian Cultivation Union worth several hundred million dollars “India’s quick assistance to the Sri Lankan people has now been valued by all parts of the Sri Lankan community,” Gopal Baglay added.
