The subsidiary of Indian Oil Corporation in Sri Lanka, Lanka IOC, has supplied 6,000 MT of fuel to the Ceylon Electricity Board on Saturday. This comes to ease the power crisis in the island country which is witnessing acute power cuts. The consignment of fuel is part of US 500 million oil line of credit extended by India.
“Standing with #Srilanka!!! @LankaIOCPLC supplied 6000 MT of fuel to the Ceylon Electricity Board today,” the High Commission of India in Colombo posted today.
Standing with #Srilanka!!! @LankaIOCPLC supplied 6000 MT of fuel to the Ceylon Electricity Board today. pic.twitter.com/j088shtRNZ
— India in Sri Lanka (@IndiainSL) April 1, 2022
A consignment of 40,000 MT of diesel under Indian assistance through Line of Credit of $500 million was also handed over to Sri Lanka today.
More fuel supplies delivered by #India to #SriLanka! A consignment of 40,000 MT of diesel under #Indian assistance through Line of Credit of $500 mn was handed over by High Commissioner to Hon'ble Energy Minister Gamini Lokuge in #Colombo today. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/j8S2IsOw29
— India in Sri Lanka (@IndiainSL) April 2, 2022
Lanka has been facing several challenges including the persisting economic crisis, triggered by a balance of payments problem. The island country is also reeling under the impact of the pandemic and the pandemic-induced economic crisis for several months now. Sri Lanka sought assistance from different countries, including India.
In many places of the country, there have been shortage of petrol and diesel since Thursday. Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa’s office asked “non-essential” staff to work from home in a bid to save fuel.
The tourism sector in the island nation was hit due to COVID pandemic leading to economic slowdown.