New Delhi, April 2: With Sri Lankan president Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Friday issuing an extraordinary gazette declaring a public emergency in the island nation with effect, India on Saturday delivered 40,000 tonnes of diesel to crisis-hit Sri Lanka.
Notably, Sri Lanka had no diesel supply over the past few days. It is learnt that an equal-sized consignment of rice is also being prepped and will be the first major food aid since the two countries signed a $1 billion loan deal last month. This will allow the Sri Lankan government to bring down prices that had doubled over the past year.
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The diesel shipment is part of an additional $500 million in fuel aid for a Sri Lankan government struggling to deal with its worst crisis in decades; prices of food and essential commodities have shot up and the country ran out of petrol and diesel this week.
Besides, Sri Lanka has also imposed a police curfew in Western Province for six hours.
Several protestors gathered outside the residence of Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Thursday as the island nation faces an unprecedented economic crisis.
The protest was staged over the government's failure to address the existing issues in the island nation. The protesters clashed with the police outside the residence of President Rajapaksa in Mirihana. After the protest, at least 10 persons were injured, including journalists.
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-PTC News