Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has expressed his gratitude to the government of Tamil Nadu and the people of India for granting Rs.2 billion worth of aid to Sri Lanka.
The Prime Minister thanked the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, MK Stalin, the Indian High Commission in Colombo and the Leader of the Ceylon Workers Congress, Senthil Thondaman for the support extended to the government and Sri Lanka people.
A consignment of aid worth over Rs. 2 billion from India arrived at the Colombo Port this evening.
The shipment of rice, milk powder and medicines from India was handed over to Sri Lankan authorities by the Indian High Commission in Colombo Gopal Baglay.
Minister GL Peiris, Nimal Siripala de Silva, former Ministers Vajira Abeywardena and Sagala Ratnayaka received the aid package at the Colombo Port this evening.
Among the consignment are 9,000 metric tons of rice, 50 tons of milk powder and 25 tons of medicines and medical equipment.
The consignment left the Indian State of Tamil Nadu on the 18th of May.
The Government of Tamil Nadu agreed to supply 40,000 metric tons of rice worth over Rs. 5.5 billion, 500 tons of milk powder and medicines to support Sri Lanka during the economic crisis.
Accordingly, the first consignment of the promised aid arrived today.
The Indian High Commission in Colombo announced that the goods will be distributed to the needy in the North, East, Central and Western Provinces.
India has extended a number of aid packages to Sri Lanka in addition to loans extended to tackle the current economic crisis in the country in recent weeks.
