COLOMBO: In line with its efforts to support Sri Lanka, which is reeling under its worst ever economic crisis, India has delivered another consignment of 40,000 metric tons (MT) of diesel, which reached Colombo last night.
Sri Lanka has been rationing its supplies of petrol and diesel due to an acute shortage, which is creating chaos at fuel stations.
India has been trying to pitch in with relief supplies to areas like Jaffna too, which has been aided by the Tamil Nadu government after seeking nod from the central government.
A day before, India had sent supplies to Jaffna, which would have benefitted close to 1 lakh families.
“Distribution of milk powder and rice was done in presence of Indian and Sri Lankan officials. This would cover over half the households in Jaffna. This is a part of assistance from Tamil Nadu wherein 40,000 MT of rice and 500 MT of milk powder was distributed,” the Indian High Commission stated.
Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to India Milinda Moragoda had recently met Finance Minister Nirmala Sitaraman, apparently to seek another credit line of $500 million for fuel imports.
Moragoda also thanked India for putting in a request on their behalf for support to the IMF.
In line with its ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy, the Indian government has already extended $3.5 billion worth of credit to Sri Lanka this year alone to help the country deal with the current situation.
The two countries had signed a US $500 million Line of Credit Agreement for the purchase of petroleum products on February 2, which has provided a lifeline to the crisis-hit island nation.
A total of close to 400,000 MT of various types of fuel had been delivered with Indian assistance in March and April.