A man shouts slogans during a protest in front of the Temple Trees Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa's official residence in Colombo, Sri Lanka, April 7, 2022. (Reuters)Sri Lanka Economic Crisis News: The Ministry of External Affairs Thursday said it stands ready to continue assisting the island nation to recover from the difficulties in line with its ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy. MEA Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said India has extended assistance of about $2.5 billion in the past three months to Sri Lanka, including credit facilities for fuel and food. He added that 270,000 metric tonnes of diesel and petrol, as well as 40,000 tonnes of rice, have been delivered to the island nation.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin, meanwhile, sought permission from the Centre to ship essential commodities like rice and life-saving drugs to Sri Lanka and distribute them there through the Indian High Commission, considering the welfare of Tamils in the country.
In Sri Lanka, a Colombo court barred Ajith Nivard Cabraal, former central Bank of Sri Lanka governor, who resigned earlier this week, from travelling out of the country. This came after a case was filed by an anti-corruption activist, Keerthi Tennakoon, over Cabraal’s alleged “misdeeds” when he was the Central Bank governor in his first tenure between 2006 and 2015. Cabraal must appear before the magistrate on April 18, according to the order, PTI reported.
Demonstrations continued across the crisis-hit nation on Thursday, with protesters gathering outside Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa’s residence, accusing the government of mismanagement. The Sri Lanka Medical Association has sent a letter to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa saying that hospitals have already decided to curtail services. Unless supplies are urgently replenished, “within a matter of weeks, if not days, emergency treatment will also not be possible. This will result in a catastrophic number of deaths,” the letter said.
A man rests while waiting in a line to buy diesel near a Ceylon Petroleum Corporation fuel station, amid the country's economic crisis in Colombo, Sri Lanka, April 7, 2022. (Reuters)
The Colombo Chief Magistrate court has barred Ajith Nivard Cabraal, former Central Bank of Sri Lanka Governor, who resigned earlier this week, from travelling out of the country.
The order came in a case filed by an anti-corruption activist, Keerthi Tennakoon, over Cabraal’s alleged “misdeeds” when he was the Central Bank governor in his first tenure between 2006 and 2015. Cabraal must appear before the magistrate on April 18, according to the order, PTI reported.
External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi Thursday said India has been keenly following the evolving economic situation and other developments in Sri Lanka.
"Since mid-March, over 270,000 metric tonnes of diesel and petrol have been delivered to Sri Lanka. In addition, around 40,000 tonnes of rice have been supplied under the recently extended USD 1 billion credit facility," Bagchi said at a media briefing.
"We have already conveyed to them on various occasions our readiness to extend whatever support we can and as has been demonstrated by our actions till now," he said.
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Several people, including medical professionals, have been protesting across our island neighbour, as it reels under its worst economic crisis. Earlier this week, the Sri Lankan government had asserted that the President will not resign, despite public anger. It has also formed an advisory panel to assist the government in talks with the IMF, for a possible financial bailout.
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