Sri Lanka Economic Crisis: Indian Naval Ship 'Gharial' Delivers 760 Kg Of Lifesaving Medicines

Fulfilling the over-ambitious goal of providing critical medical aid to Sri Lanka during the ongoing economic crisis, the Indian Naval Ship Gharial arrived in Colombo and delivered over 760 kg of 107 types of essential medicines.

Indian Naval Ship Gharial reached Colombo on Friday to deliver critical medicines. Debt-ridden Sri Lanka is grappling with unprecedented economic turmoil.

AP photo

The crisis has been caused in part by a lack of foreign currency, which has meant that the country cannot afford to pay for imports of staple foods and fuel, leading to acute shortages and very high prices.

From #India for their brethren in #Srilanka!!! A consignment of drugs and medical supplies was handed over by High Commissioner to Hon'ble Minister #ChannaJayasumana in #Colombo today. INS Gharial was deployed for ensuring expeditious delivery of the consignment to ??. pic.twitter.com/Tzl5dfhIh9

¡ª India in Sri Lanka (@IndiainSL) April 29, 2022

¡°With the overarching aim of providing critical medical aid to Sri Lanka during the ongoing crisis, INS Gharial, as part of Mission SAGAR IX, arrived at Colombo on April 29 and delivered over 760 kgs of 107 types of critical lifesaving medicines,¡± the Indian Navy statement said.

The shipment was received by Sri Lankan Health Minister Channa Jayasumana and would be supplied to the University of Peradeniya Hospital.

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Reports claim that more medical consignments in response to specific requests by various medical entities operating in all parts of Sri Lanka are also being scheduled from India.

Sri Lanka needs at least USD 4 billion to tide over its mounting economic woes, and talks with international institutions such as the World Bank and countries like China and Japan for financial assistance are going on.

AFP

Sri Lanka is now facing its worst economic crisis since gaining independence in 1948.

The recession is attributed to foreign exchange shortages caused by a clampdown on tourism during the COVID-19 pandemic. It left the country unable to buy enough fuel, with people facing an acute scarcity of food and basic necessities, fuel, and gas.

india.com

In February, New Delhi provided a short-term loan of USD 500 million to Colombo for the purchase of petroleum products through the Ministry of Energy and the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation on behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka.

Three months before that, in November 2021, India gave 100 tonnes of nano nitrogen liquid fertilizers to Sri Lanka as their government stopped the import of chemical fertilizers. India announced another USD 1 billion as a credit line to Sri Lanka to help shore up the sinking economy of the island nation.

New Delhi also provided the stock of 11,000 MT of rice to Colombo.

(With agency inputs)

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