New Delhi: Indian High Commissioner to Colombo Gopal Baglay handed over a large cargo of humanitarian aid valued at over SLR 2 billion to Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris in Colombo on Sunday.
Expressing gratitude, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe tweeted: “Sri Lanka today received Rs. 2 billion worth of humanitarian aid, including milk powder, rice, and medicines from India. Our sincere gratitude to the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Hon. @mkstalin and the People of India for the support extended. I also appreciate the assistance given by the @IndiainSL and CWC Leader @S_Thondaman in Sri Lanka.”
Last Wednesday, TN Chief Minister M. K. Stalin flagged off the shipment of aid from Chennai Port. It included 9,000 metric tonnes (MT) of rice, 50 MT of milk powder, and over 25 MT of medications and medical supplies.
This was the first shipment under the Tamil Nadu Government’s bigger USD 16 million promise of 40,000 MT of rice, 500 MT of milk powder, and pharmaceuticals.
To combat the Covid-19 pandemic, India had already provided Sri Lanka with around USD 3.5 billion in currency exchanges, credit lines, loan repayments, vaccines, testing kits, and nearly 1000 MT of liquid oxygen.
Food and fuel shortages, rising costs, and extensive power outages are currently affecting millions of Sri Lankan people.
(Venkatesh)