MELBOURNE, 28 March 2022: As Sri Lanka grapples with its worst-ever economic crisis, India’s Minister for External Affairs Dr. S. Jaishamkar arrived on Sunday (27 March 2022) evening on a three days visit.
Sri Lankan ministers, Gamini Lokuge, Minister of Energy, Johnston Fernando, Minister of Highways, Prasanna Ranatunga, Ministry of Tourism and, D V Chanaka, State Minister of Aviation and Export Zones Development, received Dr.S.Jaishankar at the airport. Apart from bilateral talks, he will also attend the BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) meeting.
“Began the visit by meeting Finance Minister B Rajapaksa. Discussed the economic situation and India’s supportive response. We will continue to be guided by Neighbourhood First,” DR. S. Jaishankar Jaishankar tweeted today. The minister will be in Sri Lanka from March 28 to 30.
SRI LANKA: Massive protests took place in the country amid a 40% price hike for fuel.
The country has been forced to close embassies in foreign countries.It has been reported the fuel shortage leads to blackouts which last partly for hours, several universities are closed. pic.twitter.com/TkaSCg4zd1
— Apex World News (@apexworldnews) March 26, 2022
The minister will be in Sri Lanka from March 28 to 30. This follows the visits to India by Sri Lanka Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa in December 2021 earlier this month and that of Sri Lanka Foreign Minister professor G L Peiris in February 2022. According to India’s Ministry of External Affairs, the bilateral meetings and interactions which Dr. S. Jaishankar will have in Sri Lanka highlight the priority Sri Lanka occupies for India adds ANI.
“Cash-strapped Sri Lanka has secured a $1bn credit line from India to buy urgently needed food and medicine, officials say, as the IMF confirms it will consider discussing a possible bailout, reported Al Jazeera.
The New York Times has said, ” The country’s enormous debt load, the pandemic and, most recently, the war in Europe have brought it to its knees.”
A massive rally organized by the left-wing National Peoples Power (NPP).
Source- Al Jazeera