India has sent 11,000 metric tons of rice to Colombo for Sri Lanka's New Year celebrations, with the shipment arriving aboard the vessel Chen Glory. The delivery coincides with the island nation's traditional New Year observances, which typically occur between April 13 and 14 based on lunar sightings.
Over 16,000 MT of rice has been supplied by India in the past week alone, according to the Indian embassy in Sri Lanka, which emphasized the longstanding partnership between the two nations. This aid follows broader support efforts including fuel, vegetables, and medical supplies amid Sri Lanka's deepening economic crisis.
India's assistance includes 270,000 MT of fuel delivered to Sri Lanka to date, along with a $1 billion line of credit to stabilize food and fuel prices. Since January 2022, total Indian aid to Sri Lanka has surpassed $2.5 billion, including a $500 million short-term loan in February for petroleum purchases and 100 tonnes of nano nitrogen liquid fertilizers provided in November 2021.
The Reserve Bank of India also extended a $400 million currency swap and deferred payments owed by Sri Lanka's central bank under the Asian Clearance Union. Sri Lanka's economic collapse, exacerbated by pandemic-related tourism losses, has left millions facing food and fuel shortages.
