By N.U. Abdul Razzak Udayar
As Sri Lanka is facing a severe and an unprecedented economic crisis due to various reasons, the Government of Sri Lanka under the leadership of Gotabaya Rajapaksa has cleverly taken the right decision to economically rely on our close neighbor and bosom friend, Mighty India, who always rises to the occasion to give whatever the aid, assistance and support to Sri Lanka when it encounters the expected or unexpected grievances and hardship.
Hence, Sri Lankans are always truly thankful to India for her magnanimity to help us at this time of difficulty. Certainly, the grants and assistance of India would soon put an end to the shortages of gas, fuel, medicine etc. in Sri Lanka.
Today every Tom, Dick and Harry who faces untold hardship pray for the God to have relief and solace though a minority group of elites enjoys their usual comfort.
Immediate Assignment
The Minister of Finance, Basi Rajapaksa is urgently sent by the Sri Lankan Government on a special assignment to meet the Prime Minster of India Shri Narendra Modi to get the financial and economic blessings of India at this hour of need.
The Indian PM’s immediate meeting with Minister Basil Rajapaksa clearly shows that India is genuinely interested in helping Sri Lanka to come out all its economic troubles.
The above Twitter message of the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi after meeting with Minister Rajapaksa sounds promising and offering a great grant and an invaluable assistance to Sri Lanka.
The visiting Sri Lankan Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa will closely work with the Indian Government to get the assistance to have the free flow of essential food items, fuel, gas medicines etc. throughout the country.
When the touring Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa met with the Indian Prime Minister, he expressed Sri Lanka’s gratitude for the biliteral economic cooperation and the grants given to Sri Lanka. He also noted that people to people relations really enhances the culture of both nations and the joint promotion of Buddhist and Ramayan Tourism Circuits will strengthen the ties of the two nations closer and closer. In return, Indian PM, Modi underscored the Central Role that Sri Lanka occupies in India’s Neighbourhood First Policy and SAGAR, the Security And Growth for All in the Region. He further reminded that India would continue to stand by the people of Sri Lanka showing real concern and care for us.
The latest news reports from India confirms that Sri Lanka is offered a whopping UDS USD 2.415 billion to overcome the dire financial strains caused by external debt payments and scarcity of US dollars.
It is relevant to mention that India has already granted a loan of USD 500 million for fuel purchase and USD 400 million currency swap under the South Asian Association for regional Cooperation (SAARC) Facility. This was reported by Policy Research Group.
There are many a big project that has come to Sri Lanka with the blessings of our great neighbour. The 1990 Ambulance of life saver and the 400 million worth Housing Scheme for the Up-Country Plantation Community are the top assistance that India has gifted to Sri Lanka besides this latest financial grant that are being packed to be handed over to Sri Lanka through the Finance Minister Mr. Basil Rajapaksa. May the good ties of India and Sri Lanka get further strengthened to put an end to the economic disaster in Sri Lanka!
The deal for the one billion USD was already signed by the two countries giving a big boost to restore the economy of Sri Lanka.
(NU Abdul Razzak is freelance journalist and researcher based in Colombo. Writer can be reached on abdulenglish2707@gmail.com)
