By N.U. Abdul Razzak Udayar
Sri Lanka has been seriously struggling to get back to the normal day to day life with protests and queues here, there and everywhere.
The Government of India under its Prime Minster Narendra Modi has bent over backwards to extend its greatest humanitarian gesture at this hour of need, with offering more help to Sri Lanka to immediately purchase the fuel that it badly requires at this time of the unprecedented economic crisis.
The Sri Lankan High Commissioner to India Mr. Milinda Moragoda has been doing a wonderful service convincing that India is our bosom buddy for all developmental projects and importantly for humanitarian needs to ensure that Sri Lanka comes out of the present economic crisis. His rapport with the Indian Government including the Minister of Finance and the Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman and other high-ranking officials have paid dividends as India shows no hesitation to give its financial and other supports to crisis hit Sri Lanka. The recent discussion that Milinda Moragoda had with the Indian Foreign Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has made India to help Sri Lanka to effectively carry on its discussion with the IMF.
The visiting Sri Lankan Justice Minister turned Finance Minister Ali Sabry has announced that India would offer another loan for buying the urgent requirement of fuel. Importantly, India has promised that it would offer its blessings and support as Sri Lanka is getting ready to go for the Economic Adjustment Proramme with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Role of India and China
Most of the huge developmental programmes of Sri Lanka are taken forward either with the partnership of China or India as these two economic giants have become greater powers in this region. A close analysis of the grants and assistance of India and China on this nation clearly shows that both have helped us though India takes the lead in terms of humanitarian aid and assistance. Most of the projects of China such as the expansion of Hambantota Harbour, Mattala Airport,the Southern Expressway, Central Expressway, Colombo Port City Project, Puttalam Coal Power Project, the Lotus Tower, Colombo Port Development etc. are carried out with China’s self- interest clearly proving he who pays the piper calls the tune. It enjoys a good portion of profit out of these huge projects.
Humanitarian Assistance of India
India too has its self interest in projects such as the Colombo Harbour Expansion Project. Nevertheless, her instant and immediate readiness in assisting Sri Lanka needs to be highlighted as it helps in no small way to ensure Sri Lanka’s survival under trying conditions. Whenever a crisis erupt, it is India that instantly offers its support as it is close to Sri Lanka in terms of distance as well as relations. It is apt to point out that her humanitarian gesture, the 1990 Ambulance Service is a Life Saver as hundreds of Sri Lankans gets the free ambulance service daily to take the sick and the injured to the hospitals found around Sri Lanka. Its huge grant of money, expertise and the provision of training cannot easily be forgotten as it stands between life and death. There are around 450 ambulances that save this nation round the clock under this gigantic health enhancement project. We should not forget that there are over 1400 health personnel and drivers who earn their livelihood under this 1990 Ambulance Service.
India has also helped and rendered its assistance against the control and eradication of Corona from Sri Lanka. The Indian support along with the assistance of other friendly nations has really helped Sri Lanka to bravely encounter the hidden enemy of the COVID-19. In addition, the 400 million worth Housing Scheme for the Up-Country Plantation Community is the top assistance that India has kindly gifted to Sri Lanka. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has rightly selected former Minister of Justice Mr. Ali Sabry to be the Finance Minister to get the international assistance and support and sympathy particularly that of our neigbour, India to rebuild Sri Lanka’s economy that is in tatters due to various reasons.
(NU Abdul Razzak is freelance journalist and researcher based in Colombo. the writer can be reached at abdulenglish2707@gmail.com)