India has helped Sri Lanka to best of its ability
As India commemorated 75 years of Independence, the Foundation for Buddhist Brotherhood of Sri Lanka conveyed their greetings to the Government of India and its people hailing India as an invaluable neighbour.
“India, our invaluable neighbour and the largest democracy in the world is celebrating her Independence Day which is a momentous annual event in the annals of independent India,” the official statement of the foundation read.
Highlighting the bilateral ties between the two nations, the Chairman of the Foundation for Buddhist Brotherhood, Dr. Damenda Porage stated that the people of Sri Lanka are delighted in sharing the spirit of the celebrations with India and conveying their greetings to the Government of India and its people.
“We gratefully reminisce the very rare historical occasion of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s arrival to participate in the UN-declared International Vesak Day celebrations in Colombo in May 2017; his immediate arrival in Sri Lanka to share our grievances after disastrous bomb blasts on Easter Sunday on April 21, 2019; and the ever-continuing magnanimous support and assistance towards strengthening the historical, cultural, spiritual, linguistic and traditional relations,” he added. Sri Lankan’s indebtedness is inexpressible in mere words, he said, adding that for India’s prompt humanitarian and all medicinal related support and assistance during the long years of the corona virus pandemic and the magnanimous and the humanitarian support and assistance to feed and rescue the starving Sri Lankans in the recent months joined benevolently also by the state governments, the media release stated. The Maha Sangha of Sri Lanka has strongly and openly reiterated on its commitment on safeguarding the regional interest of India and her neighbours in the Indian Ocean zone against threat from anti-democratic and hegemonic forces.
“We remain committed towards the growth of India from strength to strength as a democratic country and strongly believe that our retention depends inalienable on India’s growth and we convey our heartiest greetings to the Indian leadership and the people of India on this very auspicious occasion,” the statement read.
India’s assistance to crisis-hit Sri Lanka to go down in history
India’s benevolent humanitarian and monetary assistance to economically ridden Sri Lanka has brought in praise from world nations who have appreciated the country for its gesture of goodwill. The assistance would be etched in golden letters in the history of India-Lanka relations. India has sent assistance worth several billion US dollars to rescue the money-strapped Sri Lankan government accompanied by shiploads of humanitarian aid, cooking gas, large quantities of fuel, and medicinal supplies, as stated by Sathipattana, a scholastic Buddhist magazine.
India’s assistance to Sri Lanka includes the massive USD 3 billion credit line assistance, the 40,000 metric tons of diesel, shipments of rice, milk powder, and medicinal drugs all worth Rs 2 Billion. Further, 40,000 metric tons of petrol and 400,000 metric tons of cooking gas also arrived from India.
Besides the humanitarian and monetary assistance, India also extended USD 15 million to the Sri Lankan Government for promoting Buddhist religious activities, states Sathipattana. India’s generosity has made every Sri Lankan citizen, and every political party shower praises for its benevolence. However, to reciprocate India’s efforts, Sri Lanka must select the due strategic geopolitical path for the benefit of the island country and its people.
The country’s finance ministry report said, “In February 2022, India and Sri Lanka signed an agreement for a USD 500 million supply of petroleum products from the Indian Oil Company through a credit line, this was expanded by a further USD 200 million in April.”
Whilst these credit lines have provided important supply channels, Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) continues to face significant difficulties in procuring adequate fuel largely due to limitations in the availability of foreign exchange and external financing challenges.
India focusing on ways it can help Sri Lanka economically: Jaishankar
Meanwhile reiterating India’s support for Sri Lanka, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that the situation in the island nation is very sensitive and New Delhi is focusing on ways it can help Colombo economically at this time of need. Addressing a press briefing in Kerala recently Jaishankar said, “The situation in Sri Lanka is very sensitive and complicated. Even as we speak there are developments taking place. Our commitment is to support the Sri Lankan people because they are our neighbours. They are friendly people. We want to help them as they are going through a very difficult phase. We want to help because of this feeling of friendship. We have been extremely supportive of the island nation in the last few months.”
Our focus is on Sri Lanka’s economic situation and how we can help them. We are not involved in the other matters. Only focused on economic aspects of the issue and we are not concerned about other factors. We cannot respond to everything that comes on social media,” the Minister added. Jaishankar on Sunday said that India has been providing assistance to Sri Lanka and is monitoring the developments in the island nation adding that there is no refugee crisis now. “We have been supportive of Sri Lanka, are trying to help, and have always been helpful. They are working through their problem, we will see what happens. There is no refugee crisis right now, said Jaishankar.
Jaishankar’s comments reflect how India continues to stand by its neighbours amid difficult times. His remarks particularly hold more importance as Sri Lanka faces an unprecedented political and economic crisis. Under the ‘neighbourhood first policy’, India has responded with urgency to government of Sri Lanka’s request for assistance for overcoming hardships and will enhance economic linkages between the two countries be it through infrastructure connectivity and renewable energy.
In line with its “neighbourhood first” policy, India has been highly active to help Sri Lanka during its economic crisis. More than 25 tons of drugs and medical supplies which were donated by the Government and people of India during the last two months are valued at close to SLR 370 million. This is in addition to the economic assistance of around USD 3.5 billion and supply of other humanitarian supplies such as rice, milk powder, These humanitarian supplies are in continuation of the Government of India’s ongoing support to the people of Sri Lanka in multiple forms such as financial assistance, forex support, material supply and many more. These efforts prove that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Neighborhood First’ policy which places people-to-people engagement is still active. India is becoming a stronger and more mutually beneficial partner to Sri Lanka. Apart from assistance during the pandemic and fertilizer chaos, India is also donating basic products to the island nation. (With inputs from ANI)