(LANKAPUVATH | COLOMBO) –This is part of a larger commitment of 40,000 MT of rice, 500 MT of milk powder and medicines
Rice and milk powder provided by the Tamil Nadu government were distributed in Sri Lanka’s Jaffna city in Monday.
This will benefit half of the households (almost 1,00,000 families) in the city, the Consulate General of India in Jaffna said in a tweet.
The Tamil Nadu state government’s support includes the distribution of 40,000 MT of rice and 500 MT of milk powder throughout Sri Lanka.
The Consulate General of India tweeted about it, saying, “More Indian aid to Jaffna arrives! Consul General Shri Raakesh in presence of GA K. Mahesan commenced distribution of rice, milk powder in #Jaffna today. Close to 1,00,000 families, covering half the house holds in Jaffna, will benefit from Indian assistance.”
This comes a day after 15,000 litres of kerosene sent by India was gifted to 700 fishermen of Delft, Nainativu, Eluvaitivu & Analitivu. Part of this consignment will also power ferry service between islands, the Consulate General of India in Jaffna said in a tweet.
On Friday, India had handed over 25 tonnes of medical supplies worth over USD 700,000 to Sri Lanka as part of its ongoing efforts to help the island nation combat its worst economic crisis.
The same day, Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had praised India for extending support amid the continuing economic crisis and expressed a desire to further strengthen ties between the two nations.
“I had a conversation with India’s Minister of Finance @nsitharaman today. I expressed our country’s appreciation for the support India has extended during this difficult period. I look forward to further strengthening ties between our nations,” he tweeted on Friday.
Earlier, on May 22, Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Gopal Baglay had handed over more than SLR 2 billion worth of rice, milk powder and medicines to Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Prof G L Peiris in Colombo.
This was the first incoming consignment under the larger commitment of 40,000 MT of rice, 500 MT of milk powder and medicines by the Government of Tamil Nadu. This commitment translates to more than SLR 5.5 billion, the Indian High Commission had said.
The supplies are meant to be distributed among beneficiaries across the country including Northern, Eastern, Central and Western Provinces by the Government of Sri Lanka.
Last month, India advanced an additional USD 500 million credit line to Sri Lanka to help the neighboring country import fuel as it has been having trouble paying for imports due to a sharp drop in its foreign exchange reserves, which has resulted in a depreciation of its currency and spiraling inflation.
Sri Lanka is experiencing its biggest economic crisis since its 1948 independence. Long lines for gasoline, cooking gas, and other commodities have formed as a result of a catastrophic scarcity of foreign reserves, while power outages and skyrocketing food costs have added to the people’s agony.
The economic crisis has sparked a political crisis in Sri Lanka, which led to the resignation of the whole government, including ex-PM Mahinda Rajapaksa, and the appointment of a new Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.
(India News Network)
