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  • India ships rice, other essentials to crisis-hit Lanka

    India ships rice, other essentials to crisis-hit Lanka

    Sri Lanka is near bankruptcy and has severe shortages of essentials from food, fuel, medicines and cooking gas to toilet paper and matchsticks….reports Asian Lite News

    Sri Lanka received a first consignment of a $16 million humanitarian aid package from neighboring India to help mitigate severe shortages caused by the country’s worst economic crisis in recent memory.

    Gopal Baglay, the Indian envoy to Sri Lanka, delivered the donation from the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu to Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Gamini Peiris late Sunday. The goods, worth $5.6 million, include rice, milk powder and essential medicines.

    They will be distributed among vulnerable families in different parts of the country, the Indian Embassy said in a statement.

    Sri Lanka is near bankruptcy and has severe shortages of essentials from food, fuel, medicines and cooking gas to toilet paper and matchsticks. For months, people have been forced to stay in long lines to buy the limited stocks.

    The country’s new prime minister said last week that petrol stocks ran down to a final day, worsening commuting problems and lengthening lines. But shipments of gasoline paid through an Indian credit line started arriving over the weekend.

    Sri Lanka has suspended repayment of about $7 billion in foreign loans due this year out of $25 billion to be repaid by 2026. The country’s total foreign debt is $51 billion.

    Separately, India has provided a $3.5 billion economic assistance in the form of loans and buyers’ credit for food, medicine and fuel.

    Sri Lanka’s economic crisis has created political unrest with a protest occupying the entrance to the president’s office demanding his resignation continuing past 40 days. Government supporters earlier this month attacked the peaceful protesters, sparking countrywide riots during which nine people, including a lawmaker who was beaten to death, were killed.

    Many homes and properties of sitting ministers and ruling party politicians were burned. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa declared a state of emergency, giving police and the military wide powers to search, arrest and detain suspects.

    The emergency lapsed last Friday because the government did not seek Parliament’s approval within 10 days as required by the constitution.

    The protests calling for the president and his family to leave politics led to a near-dismantling of the powerful Rajapaksa dynasty with the president’s brother Mahinda Rajapaksa resigning as prime minister. Before that, two of president’s siblings and a nephew resigned as Cabinet ministers.

    The president himself is facing the prospect of having his powers significantly curtailed to strengthen Parliament under Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, who is directing negotiations with the International Monetary Fund for a rescue package.

    A constitutional amendment to curtail the president’s powers was being considered.

    Tamil Nadu, which shares language and culture with Sri Lanka’s minority Tamils, is separated by a narrow strait from the island’s Tamil-majority north. The donation was prompted after dozens of families fled to Tamil Nadu because of the economic crisis.

    ALSO READ: Modi set to thwart Indiaphobes once again

  • Debt-ridden Lankan economy may take long time to revive

    Debt-ridden Lankan economy may take long time to revive

    This year Sri Lanka needs to repay over USD 1.5 billion to China alone for debt servicing…reports As;ian Lite News

    The failure of Sri Lanka’s economy due to faulty economic planning bore fruit for China’s strategic ties as the island nation is caught in a vicious cycle of Chinese loans.

    Upon shocks of the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war, Sri Lanka’s over-reliance on China as a development partner proved wrong as China’s predatory debt diplomacy increased the foreign debts of the nation and amplified the crisis.

    As Sri Lanka slid into a foreign exchange crisis, China just came forward with a proposal for a paltry USD 500 million concessionary loans for 10 years to deal with the economic fallout of the pandemic and showed a willingness to renegotiate only a handful of Chinese debt, standing close to USD 6.5 billion and constituting more than 10% of Sri Lanka’s total foreign debt over USD 50 billion, Dailymirror reported.

    Additionally, China did not entertain Sri Lanka’s request for debt deferment of around USD 2.5 billion saying there is no such provision in their financial system, instead it evinced interest to consider providing a loan to repay debt due to it.

    This year Sri Lanka needs to repay over USD 1.5 billion to China alone for debt servicing, the report stated further.

    Sri Lanka’s economic crisis is self-made as the nation’s infrastructure development was based on borrowing while its foreign exchange earnings remained highly dependent on tourism which crashed due to covid.

    Colombo, in its efforts to speed up its economic growth, resorted to quick fixes whereas China strengthened its manufacturing base and promoted exports at the same time.

    Moreover, a better strategy for Sri Lanka would have been to ask for assistance from multilateral agencies on soft terms instead of Chinese loans near commercial terms.

    According to Dailymirror, the World Bank recently agreed to provide USD 600 million in assistance to help the country meet requirements for essential imports, however, if the country resorted to World Bank loans for infrastructure development at cheaper rates rather than Chinese loans earlier, it could have avoided such a crisis.

    At this time when China is dithering, crisis-hit Sri Lanka has only one option to explore, i.e. to seek USD 3-4 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) assistance.

    Sri Lanka’s economy has been in a free fall since the COVID-19 pandemic due to the crash of the tourism sector as well as foreign exchange shortage which has led to food, fuel, power and gas shortages and has sought the assistance of friendly countries for economic assistance. (ANI)

    ALSO READ: Controversial 21st Amendment tabled before Lankan cabinet

  • Controversial 21st Amendment tabled before Lankan cabinet

    Controversial 21st Amendment tabled before Lankan cabinet

    The 21st Amendment is expected to annul the 20A which gave unlimited powers to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa after abolishing the 19th Amendment….reports Asian Lite News

    Following a meeting of the Constitution Amendment drafting committee held on Monday evening at the Prime Minister’s office, the 21st Amendment to the Constitution was presented to Sri Lanka’s cabinet.

    The cabinet decided to distribute the copies of the amendment amongst the Parliament Party Leaders so that they can observe it. The amendment will be discussed on Friday and after this, it will be sent back to Cabinet for final approval, Colombo Page reported citing the statement released by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

    The 21st Amendment is expected to annul the 20A which gave unlimited powers to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa after abolishing the 19th Amendment.

    Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, Minister of Justice, Prisons and Constitutional Reforms said that the 21 Amendment includes clauses that reduce the powers of the executive presidency and prevent people with dual citizenship from holding parliamentary seats, according to Colombo Page.

    Meanwhile, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa administered the oath to eight new cabinet ministers amid the ongoing political instability and economic crisis in the country.

    The ministers included Harin Fernando as the Minister of Fisheries, and Bandula Gunawardena as the Minister of Transport and Highways, Minister of Mass Media, Keheliya Rambukwella as the Minister of Water Supply and Drainage, the President’s Media Division said.

    Besides, Mahinda Amaraweera took oath as the Minister of Agriculture, Wildlife and Wildlife Conservation, Ramesh Pathirana as the Minister of Industries, Vidura Wickramanayaka as the minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, Ahmed Nasir as the Minister of Environment and Roshan Ranasinghe as the Minister of Irrigation, Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs.

    Earlier, on Friday, nine Ministers had taken the oath before President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the President’s House.

    Meanwhile, Sri Lanka is struggling to cope with its dire economic scarcity, with food and fuel shortages, soaring prices, and power cuts affecting a large number of people. (ANI)

    ALSO READ: India’s fuel aid reaches Lanka

  • 8 more cabinet ministers appointed in Lanka

    8 more cabinet ministers appointed in Lanka

    Thirteen cabinet ministers had been appointed on two previous occasions following the appointment of Ranil Wickremesinghe as the Prime Minister on May 12….reports Asian Lite News

    Eight more ministers were sworn in to Sri Lanka’s new Cabinet on Monday as a fresh government is being formed amid weeks of political instability and the ongoing economic crisis.

    According to the President’s Media Division, the eight ministers took oath at the President’s House in Colombo and later assumed duties in their respective ministries, reports Xinhua news agency.

    Douglas Devananda was sworn in as the minister of fisheries, Keheliya Rambukwella as the minister of water supply, Mahinda Amaraweera as the minister of agriculture, wildlife and forest conservation and Ramesh Pathirana as the industries minister.

    Thirteen cabinet ministers had been appointed on two previous occasions following the appointment of Ranil Wickremesinghe as the Prime Minister on May 12.

    Sri Lanka has seen weeks of public protests due to a shortage in essential supplies including food and medicines.

    ALSO READ: Fuel crisis in Lanka kills 2-day old infant

  • Fuel crisis in Lanka kills 2-day old infant

    Fuel crisis in Lanka kills 2-day old infant

    In Haldamulla, about 190 km from capital Colombo, the parents wanted to rush their baby to the hospital as she was showing signs of jaundice and was refusing to be breast fed…reports SUSITHA FERNANDO

     As the fuel crisis is worsening in Sri Lanka, tragedy struck a family after a two-day-old infant died as her father could not find petrol for his tuk-tuk to take her to the hospital in the island nation’s Central Highlands region.

    Shanaka Roshan Pathirana, the Judicial Medical Officer (JMO) of the Diyatalawa hospital, conducted the post-mortem of the infant and shared the heart rendering story on social media.

    In Haldamulla, about 190 km from capital Colombo, the parents wanted to rush their baby to the hospital as she was showing signs of jaundice and was refusing to be breast fed.

    With the ongoing fuel crisis, the baby’s father searched for petrol for hours.

    Finally, when the baby arrived at a hospital in Haldamulla, the doctors had to transfer her to an Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) at the Diyatalawa hospital.

    Due to the delay in admitting her, the baby’s health deteriorated and she passed away.

    “It was sad to conduct the post-mortem as all organs of the baby were well grown. The depressing memory for the parents that they could not save their baby just because they could not find a litre of petrol would haunt throughout them forever,” Pathirana said in his social media post, while accusing the political authorities for failing to help people amidst the worst-ever economic crisis.

    Meanwhile, Education Minister Susil Premajayantha urged the country to help transport children who are starting their crucial GCE Ordinary Level exams on Monday.

    “In the name of humanity please help and give a lift to a child who is getting delayed to go for the exams without transport. Also please don’t block the road for the students and the examiners,” the Minister pleaded.

    Sri Lanka is currently facing a severe power and fuel emergency and is struggling to find dollars to import fuel and gas among other essentials.

    India has helped Sri Lanka on several occasions and on Saturday provided 40,000 metric tonnes of diesel under the credit line facility.

    In April, India extended an additional $500 million credit line to import fuel.

    So far this year, India has helped its island neighbour with over $3.5 billion financial support and credit lines in additions to other donations.

    ALSO READ: Lanka takes actions to tackle fuel shortage

  • Wickremesinghe thanks people of India for $2 bn aid

    Wickremesinghe thanks people of India for $2 bn aid

    PM Wickremesinghe extended his appreciation to the High Commission of India in Colombo as well as to Senthil Thondaman, leader of Sri Lanka’s Ceylon Workers Congress for their assistance….reports Asian Lite News

    Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe expressed his gratitude to the “people of India” for handing over humanitarian assistance worth Rs 2 billion amidst the prevalent economic crisis on the island country.

    Taking to Twitter, the Sri Lankan Prime Minister said, “Sri Lanka today received Rs. 2 Billion worth Humanitarian aid including milk powder, rice, and medicines from India. Our sincere gratitude to the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Hon. @mkstalin and the People of India for the support extended.”

    PM Wickremesinghe extended his appreciation to the High Commission of India in Colombo as well as to Senthil Thondaman, leader of Sri Lanka’s Ceylon Workers Congress for their assistance.

    “I also appreciate the assistance given by the @IndiainSL and CWC Leader @S_Thondaman in Sri Lanka.” tweeted Wickremesinghe.

    The Indian High Commission to Colombo also tweeted, “A message of care! From the people of to the people of …High Commissioner handed over rice, milk powder& medicines worth more than SLR 2 billion to Hon’ble FM Prof.G.L Peiris in #Colombo today. Hon’ble Minister @nimaldsilva, @VajiraAbey, @SagalaRatnayaka, @S_Thondaman.”

    India handed over a large amount of humanitarian assistance consignment worth over Rs 2 billion to the island country which reached Colombo on Sunday. The consignment comprises 9,000 metric tons of rice, and 50 metric tons of milk powder, coupled with over 25 metric tons of drugs and other pharmaceutical supplies.

    The consignment will be distributed among several beneficiaries across the country by the Sri Lankan government, reported Colombo Page. The beneficiaries include Northern, Eastern, Central, and Western provinces, covering diverse sections of the society.

    Previously, the government of India has also sent out dry rations, medicines, and other essential commodities to Sri Lanka on a grant basis.

    Meanwhile, Sri Lanka is struggling to cope with its dire economic scarcity, with food and fuel shortages, soaring prices, and power cuts affecting a large number of people.

    However, New Delhi has pledged nearly USD 3 billion to cash-strapped Colombo through currency swaps, credit lines for essential goods, and repayment of loans since January 2022 to help Sri Lanka amid one of the worst economic crises in history. (ANI)

    ALSO READ: Lanka takes actions to tackle fuel shortage

  • Lanka takes actions to tackle fuel shortage

    Lanka takes actions to tackle fuel shortage

    A chronic shortage of foreign currency and soaring inflation had led to a severe shortage of medicines, fuel and other essentials….reports Asian Lite News

    Police in Sri Lanka on Sunday started a nationwide raid on those hoarding diesel or petrol for resale amid the ongoing economic crisis.

    Police spokesman Nihal Thalduwa said they had received information that a large number of those queuing at gas stations are buying fuel to resell at higher prices, reports Xinhua news agency.

    This was causing great inconvenience for the people as long queues persist despite availability of fuel, said Thalduwa.

    Meanwhile, Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekera said that a ship carrying petrol started unloading in Colombo on Saturday night.

    Another ship carrying petrol will arrive on May 25, the Minister said.

    The island nation’s economy has been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic, rising energy prices, and populist tax cuts.

    A chronic shortage of foreign currency and soaring inflation had led to a severe shortage of medicines, fuel and other essentials.

    In recent weeks, there have been large, violent, protests against President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his family.

    ALSO READ: Water cut imposed in Lanka amid food, fuel shortage

  • Water cut imposed in Lanka amid food, fuel shortage

    Water cut imposed in Lanka amid food, fuel shortage

    Presently, Sri Lanka is facing its worst economic and political crisis in four decades which has largely affected the essential services….reports Asian Lite News

    Several parts of the Colombo city will undergo a 10-hour- long water cut on Saturday, Sri Lanka media reports said citing the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) of the country.

    The report said that the water cut will be effective from today at 10.00 pm and extend till 8.00 am on Sunday morning. It has been imposed due to the maintenance work, reported the Daily Mirror.

    The supply in four areas of the city will be completely interrupted while two areas will experience low pressure water supply, the board said while advising people to store required amount of water and use it cautiously.

    Presently, Sri Lanka is facing its worst economic and political crisis in four decades which has largely affected the essential services.

    With fuel shortages, soaring prices, and power cuts affecting a large number of the citizens, the impending food crisis amid this will put the country in a mess when it is already grappling with other challenges.

    Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on Thursday said that Sri Lanka is one of the few nations which is expected to go without food in the global food shortage which is expected within this year, reported the Daily Mirror.

    “FAO has named a few nations including Sri Lanka and Afghanistan which are expected to go without food,” the Prime Minister said.

    He asked the people of the country to be prepared for the food shortage and said that in order to deal with this crisis, Sri Lanka will have to cultivate food crops in abandoned crops, even in the city of Colombo, reported the Daily Mirror.

    “There are many lands belonging to the Railways Department which are neglected and can be used to grow food. I will talk to the World Bank to get some assistance,” the PM added.

    We also have greenhouse, he said, adding that it is essential for Sri Lanka to make 2023 a year of agriculture.

    The country’s economy has been in a free-fall since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to the crash of the tourism sector. The country is also facing a foreign exchange shortage as it borrowed billions of dollars from China, burdening itself with hefty loans. (ANI)

    ALSO READ: Lanka defaults on debt for first time

  • Why did Wickremesinghe appoint Nasheed as advisor?

    Why did Wickremesinghe appoint Nasheed as advisor?

    With Nasheed’s appointment, Colombo has sent a signal that it is ready to embrace the West once again, reports Rahul Kumar

    On Thursday, Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe appointed former Maldivian president Mohamed Nasheed as an advisor to help his country secure foreign aid and bail Sri Lanka out of its unprecedented crisis.

    Since late last year, Sri Lanka is grappling with a debilitating economic crisis that has pushed up inflation and caused scarcity of food and fuel.

    In a tweet, Wickremesinghe said: “I have accepted former Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed’s generous offer to assist in the relief efforts in Sri Lanka’s economic recovery by coordinating the efforts to secure foreign assistance”.

    Nasheed warmly reciprocated Wickremesinghe’s announcement, saying: “Thank you Prime Minister. I am more than happy to help and will give it my best shot”.

    India Narrative spoke with experts in India and Sri Lanka to find out more about the unprecedented appointment, considering that Nasheed is the Speaker of the Maldivian Parliament currently.

    Colombo-based author and foreign advisor, Dr Srimal Fernando told India Narrative: “It is a smart move by Wickremesinghe. Nasheed has a vast network, particularly with Western nations. He has a wide global exposure and is quite advanced in his thinking”.

    Fernando added: “Nasheed can help Sri Lanka because he is an influential figure and is backed by European nations. He has lived in many foreign countries and is strongly pro-India. The three countries — Sri Lanka, Maldives and India form a close triangle. People from all these countries are close to each other. During the recent crisis no other country came to help except India”.

    Fernando said that Nasheed’s relations with Sri Lanka are very old, “almost since the time he formed the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP). Once, during his political career, when Nasheed was deposed, he took asylum in Sri Lanka. At that time, both Ranil Wickremesinghe and the Rajapaksas facilitated asylum for many MDP supporters. Family members of many Maldivian politicians live here”.

    Dhananjay Tripathi, Associate Professor in the Department of International Relations, South Asian University, told India Narrative that though surprising, Nasheed’s appointment will serve Sri Lanka well. “Sri Lanka has sent a clear political signal to China by appointing Nasheed as the coordinator for Sri Lanka’s economic recovery”.

    Tripathi added that Nasheed enjoys a good political reputation and he will help Sri Lanka move close to its traditional allies – the Western nations. “We should remember that from the very early days, Sri Lanka was guided by the Western notions of liberalism and capitalism, much before India came into that space”.

    Sri Lanka’s tilt to China took place during the reign of the Rajapaksa family. With Nasheed’s appointment, Colombo has sent a signal that it is ready to embrace the West once again.

    Despite its size, Maldives – which is an archipelago, carries considerable heft in global affairs. Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid is currently the President of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). Nasheed himself is widely accepted because of his strong democratic credentials and advocacy of the climate crisis.

    The two islands have strong bilateral linkages and close connections. With just one hour travel time between the two island nations, the people-to-people connections are very strong. It is estimated that nearly 15,000 Maldivians live in Sri Lanka permanently.

    As Fernando said: “The people of the two nations too are governed by a certain island mentality which brings them together”.

    (The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com)

    ALSO READ: Lanka defaults on debt for first time

  • Ex-Maldivian Prez roped in to coordinate relief efforts in Lanka

    Ex-Maldivian Prez roped in to coordinate relief efforts in Lanka

    According to Prime Minister’s Office, Wickremesinghe accepted the former President’s offer and appointed him to coordinate the relief efforts….reports Asian Lite News

    Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has appointed former Maldives President and Speaker of Parliament Mohammed Nasheed on Thursday to coordinate the relief efforts for the island nation.

    Nasheed had offered to assist Sri Lanka in securing relief for the country from the foreign nations, Daily Mirror reported citing Prime Minister’s Office.

    According to Prime Minister’s Office, Wickremesinghe accepted the former President’s offer and appointed him to coordinate the relief efforts.

    Later on, the Prime Minister thanked Nasheed for his support for Sri Lanka during the economic crisis.

    “I have accepted former Maldivian President @MohamedNasheed’s generous offer to assist in the relief efforts in Sri Lanka’s economic recovery by coordinating the efforts to secure foreign assistance,” Wickremesinghe tweeted.

    Mahinda Rajapaksa, former Prime Minister of Sri Lanka resigned from the PM’s post, and Ranil Wickremesinghe was sworn in as the new Prime Minister. He was appointed the Sri Lankan Prime Minister for a record sixth term.

    Meanwhile, PM Wickremesinghe has given his assurance to the people of Sri Lanka that he will ensure the supply of petrol, diesel, and electricity to the island country.

    Earlier, Sri Lanka also witnessed massive protests at ‘Galle Face’ in Colombo in front of the Presidential Secretariat. Over 100 dissenters were injured at the Galle Face protest site during violent clashes resulting in a nationwide curfew.

    ‘Sufficient fuel stocks till mid-June’

    Prime Minister Wickremesinghe assured the country’s lawmakers that the island nation has been able to secure sufficient stocks of diesel and petrol which will last till mid-June.

    Wickremesinghe made the remarks during the ongoing first session of the Sri Lankan parliament since a change of guard that took place last week following the resignation of former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa.

    The new Sri Lankan PM stressed that the stocks of fuel will reduce the long queues at the fuel stations, however, stressing that “the queues for fuel will not completely disperse”.

    Wickremesinghe also explained to the house, the delay in the shipment of natural gas by the country’s premier gas supplier Litro.

    He has called for an immediate explanation from the Chairman while also requesting the Chairman of the Committee on Public Enterprises to summon Litro Gas officials for an explanation, an official statement said.

    The prime minister separately added that the reported orders to shoot violent protestors on sight had not been officially conveyed to the security forces during the unrest. He explained that all security forces have been instructed to follow standard procedures.

    Sri Lanka is facing its worst economic crisis since independence with food and fuel shortages, soaring prices, and power cuts affecting a large number of the citizens, resulting in massive protests which culminated in the resignation of former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa last week. (ANI)

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