Ranil Vikramsingh told Parliament that talks with India and China on debt restructuring have been successful.
Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe informed Parliament on Tuesday that talks with India and China on debt restructuring have been successful.
“We are continuing discussions in that regard and I am happy to announce to this House that the discussions are currently successful,” read the press release from the Sri Lankan President’s Media Division.
Notably, Sri Lanka is awaiting an International Monetary Fund bailout to bail out the country from its worst economic crisis.
The announcement has been made in the wake of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s visit to the island nation, who will visit Maldives and Sri Lanka from January 18-20.
Regarding the Sri Lanka tour, the ministry said Mr Jaishankar’s visit would follow his previous visits to the bankrupt country in January 2021 and March 2022. Sri Lanka is a close friend and neighbour, and India stands by the people of Sri Lanka at all times. ,
“During the visit, EAM will call on President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardene and will also discuss with Foreign Minister MUM Ali Sabri the entire gamut of the close India-Sri Lanka partnership and steps to strengthen it in all areas will do.” said in the statement.
Wickremesinghe invited the opposition to join hands through a new political system to provide relief to the people and free them from oppression.
Despite the difficult economic backdrop in the country, the President emphasized that the government was working to provide relief to the people, and said that he would take steps to allocate Rs. 30-40 billion for medicines this year.
The President said that the government’s prudent agricultural policies have resulted in a bountiful paddy harvest in the country and that the government has launched a program to provide two million low-income families with 10 kilograms of rice per month over a two-month period . , added the release.
Responding to allegations that the government was spending excessively on independence celebrations, the President said it was an investment for the future. In the 25 years leading up to the 100th anniversary of independence, many new institutions and laws will be introduced for the reform program needed by the country.
Wickremesinghe said he intends to allocate 30-40 billion rupees for medicines this year.
“The Ministry of Health and the Treasury will somehow join hands and sort out these matters. It will take a while to order these medicines. Even we do not like to see shortages in our hospitals, nor shortages of people Love to watch you die.” Medicines. Hence, we have taken steps to allocate necessary funds for the provision of medicines,” he said.
About the shortage of food and fertilizer in the island nation, he said, “We expected that there would be a shortage of food this year as well. But we somehow provided the necessary fertilizer to the farmers.”
He also revealed plans to provide 10 kg rice to 02 million low-income families per month during March and April.
The Lankan President said, “If we can give them more, I will be happy. We are celebrating our 75th independence, we will not let our people starve. We will invest the necessary money to feed them.”
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