Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has highlighted that India’s assistance to Sri Lanka during its economic crisis has played a key role in enhancing India’s image among Sri Lankan citizens.
“My first advice to you, the next time you want to take a holiday, go to Sri Lanka. I’m serious. Please go to Sri Lanka. I say this to all of you,” the Indian External Affairs Minister said while addressing an event in India.
He explained that the ordinary citizen of Sri Lanka has high praise for India, as when the rest of the world turned its back on Sri Lanka during its economic crisis, the only country that came forward was India.
“I had visited Sri Lanka and saw firsthand the fuel queues and shortage of food and essential commodities. The only country that came forward at this time was India,” he said.
The Indian External Affairs Minister said at this time, India committed US$ 4.5 billion to aid Sri Lanka.
“They negotiated with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a long time. The IMF should have been from where the help should have first come from. The IMF package was less than US$ 3 billion,” he said.
The Indian Minister S. Jaishankar further said that what India did immediately and efficiently for Sri Lanka was 50% bigger than that offered by the IMF.
Minister Jaishankar made the remarks in response to a question raised on allegations that neighbouring countries were turning against India. (NewsWire)
"When the rest of the world turned its back on Sri Lanka, the only country that came forward (was India)…we committed $4 1/2 bn to Sri Lanka.." says EAM Jaishankar @DrSJaishankar. Adds,'what we did was 50% bigger than IMF..' pic.twitter.com/O72YtS0VVy
— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) January 30, 2024