India supplies another 40,000 metric tonnes of diesel to crisis-hit Sri Lanka

India on Saturday provided another 40000 metric tonnes of diesel to Sri Lanka under the credit line facility to the island nation which is grappling with its worst economic crisisLast month India extended an additional USD 500 million credit line to help Sri Lanka import fuel as the country has been struggling to pay for imports after its foreign exchange reserves plummeted sharply in recent times causing a devaluation of its currency and spiralling inflationPumping diesel into SriLanka Another 40000 MT consignment of diesel under the credit line from India reached Colombo today Indias High Commission said on TwitterOn Friday the mission here said that an Indian ship laden with urgent relief supplies like rice medicines and milk powder for the people of crisishit Sri Lanka is scheduled to reach Colombo on SundayTamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin flagged off the ship laden with relief supplies the first to be dispatched to Sri Lanka from Chennai on WednesdayThe first consignment comprises 9000 metric tonnes MT of rice 200 MT milk powder and 24 MT lifesaving medicines with a combined value of Rs 45 crorePeople of India standing by their brethren in SriLanka Rice milk powder and medicines worth more than SLR 2 billion USD 56 million is scheduled to reach Colombo on Sunday the Indian mission tweetedChief Minister Stalin flagged off the cargo carrying the relief from the Chennai Port in the presence of his cabinet colleagues and senior officialsThe assistance from people of India complements multipronged efforts undertaken by the Government of India by standing with their brethren in Sri Lanka the High Commission said in a press release on FridaySeveral private and social organisations from India have sent assistance to Sri Lanka to meet various urgent requirements This outpouring of support for Sri Lanka among common Indians is apart from the economic assistance by Government of India which has been to the tune of around USD 35 billion since January this year In addition medicines dry rations etc have also been sent by Government of India on grant basis the statement saidMeanwhile Japan has also announced its decision to provide USD 15 million through a World Food Programme WFP programme for essential food rations and school meal programmeWe are pleased to announce that the Government of Japan will grant 15 million dollars emergency assistance through WFP to provide three months essential food supplies including fortified rice dhal and oil for approximately 15000 urban and rural people and 380000 school children across the island Charge d Affaires ad interim of Japan to Sri Lanka Katsuki Kotaro saidWe hope that this humanitarian assistance will help improve food access and nutrition for the people of Sri Lanka amidst the economic crisis Kotaro addedUsing the contribution the WFP will procure rice for the daily free school meals and also distribute ration packs comprising essential commodities to vulnerable householdsGetting the right nutrition to those who need it the most will help mitigate the longterm effects of todays economic downturn said Abdur Rahim Siddiqui WFP Representative and Country Director in Sri LankaPrime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe announced this week that Sri Lanka would be facing a severe food shortageHe advocated the use of unused state land for cultivation as a mitigation measureSri Lanka is going through the worst economic crisis since independence in 1948 A crippling shortage of foreign reserves has led to long queues for fuel cooking gas and other essentials while power cuts and soaring food prices heaped misery on the peopleThe economic crisis has also triggered a political crisis in Sri Lanka and a demand for the resignation of the powerful RajapaksasIndia has said that as an eternal and reliable friend of Sri Lanka New Delhi is fully supportive of the island nations democracy stability and economic recoveryIn keeping with Indias Neighbourhood First policy New Delhi has extended this year alone support worth over USD 35 billion to the people of Sri Lanka for helping them overcome their current difficulties the Ministry of External Affairs said on May 10This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever