India donates large consignment of urgent drugs and medical supplies

Indian High Commissioner Gopal Baglay yesterday handed over a large consignment of drugs and other medical supplies to Sri Lanka.

Indian Naval Ship Ghariyal was specially deployed for ensuring expeditious delivery of the medical consignment, a gift from the people of India. Health Minister Channa Jayasumana received the consignment. 

The Indian High Commission said these medical supplies are in response to the request from Teaching Hospital, Peradeniya. Shortage of essential supplies in the Teaching Hospital was noted by External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar during his visit to Sri Lanka in March 2022. It said more medical consignments in response to specific requests by various medical entities operating in all parts of Sri Lanka are also being scheduled from India. In addition, $ 200 million has been earmarked for the supply of medical supplies under the $ 1 billion credit line for essential commodities like food, medicine etc.

India has been extending expeditious support to Sri Lanka in the recent past. Overall economic assistance which stands close to $ 3 billion in 2022 alone has been of various kinds – $ 1 billion credit line for essentials; $ 500 million credit line for purchase of petroleum products; $ 400 million bilateral currency swap; and over $ 1 billion under the Asian Clearing Union Framework.  The $ 1 billion credit line is operational and 16,000 MT of rice has already reached Sri Lanka, inter alia other items, under this credit line.