The Indian Embassy has provided emergency food supplies to communities in Sri Lanka's Anuradhapura region, addressing severe food insecurity exacerbated by the nation's economic crisis.
The aid was delivered to Madawewa and Kirimetiyawa villages in Anuradhapura, a city of historical significance. The Indian embassy confirmed the distribution via Twitter, highlighting the initiative as part of broader support.
India also sent 11,000 metric tons of rice to Colombo aboard the ship Chen Glory, arriving ahead of Sri Lanka's April 13-14 New Year celebrations. This shipment, part of over 16,000 MT delivered in the past week, underscores the bilateral relationship.
India's assistance includes fuel, vegetables, and medicines, with over 270,000 MT of fuel supplied to date. A $1 billion credit line aims to stabilize food and fuel prices, complementing earlier aid totaling $2.5 billion since January 2022.
This includes a $500 million short-term loan in February for petroleum purchases and 100 tonnes of nano nitrogen fertilizers in November 2021. The Reserve Bank of India also provided a $400 million currency swap and deferred payments under the Asian Clearance Union.
Sri Lanka's economic collapse, worsened by pandemic-related tourism losses, has led to food and fuel shortages, prompting reliance on international aid. The crisis has triggered power cuts and widespread hardship.
