Digital Desk: With the delivery of 120,000 metric tons of
diesel and 40,000 metric tons of petrol over the next two weeks, Sri Lanka will
exhaust $500 million in fuel aid provided by India to ease the island nation's
power crisis.
On April 15, 18 and
23, India will ship three 40,000-ton shipments of diesel, with a petrol
shipment of the same quantity scheduled for April 22. The Indian government has
sent another shipment of petrol and diesel to Sri Lanka - 36,000 tons each., on
Wednesday.
Officials from both
sides are negotiating to raise the credit line amid fears that Sri Lanka may
run out of fuel (again) by the end of this month. After Sri Lanka pays for the
purchases made already, the credit line can only be reopened.
India has provided a
$500 million line of credit for fuel in addition to the $2.5 billion provided
for other essentials, such as food and medicine.
President Gotabaya
Rajapaksa's government has been weakened as a result of widespread public
anger. Almost all cabinet ministers and scores of members of parliament have
left. Demonstrators have called for Rajapaksa to resign.
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