India provided 3.8 billion dollar assistance for ameliorating serious economic situation in Sri Lanka: External Affairs Minister Jaishankar

New Delhi: External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar has said that India has given 3.8 billion dollar assistance for ameliorating the serious economic situation in Sri Lanka. He said, no other country has given this level of support to Sri Lanka this year. Briefing reporters after chairing an all-party meeting convened by the Centre to discuss the Sri Lankan crisis in New Delhi today, Dr Jaishankar said, in Sri Lanka, there is a very serious crisis and situation is unprecedented. He said, Sri Lanka is our close neighbour and India will play a supportive role. If there is instability in any neighbouring country or any violence, that is a matter of deep concern to India, he added.

Dr Jaishankar said, two presentations were given to the leaders of the political parties which was done from a foreign policy perspective. He said, during the presentation, it was explained to all leaders about the political turbulence in Sri Lanka, economic crisis, debt situation and the support that India has given to that country and the initiative as to how to help and facilitate the Sri Lankan engagement with other bodies including IMF.

Dismissing the apprehensions about arising Sri Lanka-like situation in parts of India, Dr Jaishankar said, during the meeting, the Finance Ministry also made presentation that brought out statewide- the expenditure to revenue comparison, liabilities to Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP), growth rate or liabilities of various Indian states and mortgaging of assets. He added India has approached the situation in Sri Lanka in a very humanistic way.

Eight ministers from the government side including Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Arjun Ram Meghwal and Ministers of State for External Affairs Meenakshi Lekhi, Rajkumar Ranjan Singh and V Muraleedharan have attended the meeting. Besides, 28 parties including Congress, AIADMK, DMK, Left, TMC, YSRCP, SP, BSP and AAP attended the meeting.