New Delhi: With the Sri Lankan economy facing one of its worst ever economic crisis, India on Saturday provided another 40,000 metric tonnes of diesel under the credit line facility to the island nation. “Pumping diesel into SriLanka!!! Another 40,000 MT consignment of diesel under the credit line from India reached Colombo today,” India’s High Commission said on Twitter.



Earlier on Friday, the High Commission said that an Indian ship laden with urgent relief supplies for the people of Sri Lanka is scheduled to reach Colombo on Sunday.


Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin flagged off the ship laden with relief supplies from Chennai earlier on Wednesday.


“People of India, standing by their bretheren in SriLanka. Rice, milk powder and medicines worth more than SLR 2billion is scheduled to reach Colombo on Sunday. The consignment was flagged off from Chennai by CM of Tamil Nadu @mkstalin on Wednesday,” the High Commission wrote on the micro-blogging platform.



The High Commission in a statement on Friday said the consignment, which consists of 9,000 MT of rice, 50 MT of milk powder and more than 25 MT of drugs and other medical supplies, will be handed over by High Commissioner Gopal Baglay to the senior leadership of the Government of Sri Lanka.


“This is the first incoming consignment under a larger commitment of 40,000 MT of rice, 500 MT of milk powder and medicines by Government of Tamil Nadu. This commitment translates to more than SLR 5.5 billion,” the statement added.


The High Commission said the incoming consignment shall be distributed among beneficiaries across the country including northern, eastern, central and western provinces by the Government of Sri Lanka, adding these beneficiaries cover diverse sections of the society.


The High Commission further said the assistance from the people of India complements multi-pronged efforts undertaken by the Government of India by standing with their brethren in Sri Lanka.


“Several private and social organizations from India have sent assistance to Sri Lanka to meet various urgent requirements. This outpouring of support for Sri Lanka among common Indians is apart from the economic assistance by Government of India which has been to the tune of around USD 3.5 billion since January this year. In addition, medicines, dry rations etc have also been sent by Government of India on grant basis,” the High Commission added.