Colombo [Sri Lanka], April 12 (ANI): Ahead of the new year celebrations in Sri Lanka, 11,000 MT of rice from India reached Colombo on Tuesday. According to the Indian embassy in Sri Lanka, the rice reached Colombo on board the ship Chen Glory.

New year in Sri Lanka is generally celebrated on April 13 or April 14 and traditionally begins at the sighting of the new moon. Over 16,000 MT of rice has been supplied by India under its multi-pronged support to Sri Lanka in the past week alone, said the embassy, adding that the supplies mark the special bond between India and the island nation.

Notably, amid the economic crisis in Sri Lanka, India has stepped forward to help the country by supplying fuel, vegetables, daily ration items and medicines. India has already supplied over 270,000 MT of fuel to Sri Lanka till now and has earlier announced another USD 1 billion as a credit to help shore up the sinking economy of the island nation.

The USD 1 billion Line of Credit to Colombo will help in keeping their food prices and fuel costs under check. Since January this year, support from India to Sri Lanka has exceeded USD 2.5 billion. In February, New Delhi provided a short-term loan of USD 500 million to Colombo for the purchase of petroleum products through the Ministry of Energy and the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation on behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka. In November 2021, India had given 100 tonnes of nano nitrogen liquid fertilizers to Sri Lanka as their government stopped the import of chemical fertilizers.

Besides, the Reserve Bank of India has extended a currency swap of USD 400 million and deferred payments owed by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka under the Asian Clearance Union worth several hundred million dollars. Sri Lanka is battling a severe economic crisis with food and fuel scarcity affecting a large number of the people in the island nation. The economy has been in a free-fall since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to the crush of tourism.

Sri Lanka is also facing a foreign exchange shortage, which has, incidentally, affected its capacity to import food and fuel, leading to the power cuts in the country. The shortage of essential goods forced Sri Lanka to seek assistance from friendly countries. (ANI)

PM Modi says India ready to supply food stock to world if WTO agrees

Gandhinagar (Gujarat) [India], April 12 (ANI): Stating that he has discussed the issue of the global food shortage with US President Joe Biden, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that India is ready to supply food stock to the world. PM Modi said that India can supply food stock if the World Trade Organisation (WTO) comes on board.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday inaugurated the hostel and education complex at “Shree Annapurna Dham” via video conferencing. “Food stock in different parts of the world is dwindling due to the war (in Ukraine). The world is facing a new problem now, with the food stock of the world getting empty. I was talking to the US President, and he also raised this issue. I suggested that if WTO gives permission, India is ready to supply food stock to the world from tomorrow,” PM Narendra Modi said.

He said that India already has enough food stock for the people in the country but “our farmers seem to have made arrangements to feed the world”. However, we have to work according to the laws of the world, so I don’t know when WTO will give permission and we can supply food to the world, PM Modi added. “The development of Gujarat is necessary for the development of India,” said PM Narendra Modi after inaugurating the hostel and education complex of “Shri Annapurnadham Trust” at Adalaj.

Further speaking on the Annapurnadham Trust, Narendra Modi said, “In the field of education, nutrition and health, Gujarat has always contributed to society. The Patidar community has also been part of it.”
“Bhumipujan (ground-breaking ceremony)” of the “Hiramani Arogya Dham” will also take place. While speaking about the Arogya Dham, the PM said, “The Central Government’s free dialysis facility in government hospitals will boost the purpose of Arogya Dham. A large number of people will be able to get dialysis treatment at the same time in the Arogya Dham. There will be 24 hours blood supply. This Arogya Dham will serve mankind.”

PM Narendra Modi added, “Idol of Mother Annapurna Mata was stolen from Kashi decades ago and transported abroad. We brought back the idol of Mother Annapurna from Canada to Kashi a few months back. Dozens of such cultural symbols have been brought back from abroad in the last seven-eight years.” (ANI)