SriLanka
India to supply 65,000 metric tons of urea to Sri Lanka as economic crisis worsens
New Delhi: India will send 65,000 metric tons of urea to support Sri Lanka amid its worsening economic crisis, partially attributed to its steep fall in agricultural output after the Rajapaksa government's sudden decision to switch to organic farming, early last year, went catastrophically wrong.
According to a Daily Mirror report, Sri Lanka's High Commissioner in India, Milinda Moragoda, held a meeting with the Secretary in the Department of Fertilizers of India Rajesh Kumar Chaturvedi Thursday.
"High Commissioner Milinda Moragoda met with the Secretary to the Department of Fertilizers of India Rajesh Kumar Chaturvedi and thanked him for India's decision to supply 65,000 MT of urea required for the current Yala cultivation season in Sri Lanka," said the High Commission of Sri Lanka in a message.
Moragoda and Kumar Chaturvedi discussed ways to ensure that chemical fertilizer supplies from India continue under the existing Credit Line and beyond, reported Daily Mirror.
Currently, the Indian government has imposed a ban on the export of urea.
The Sri Lankan government as a part of its plan to shift toward organic agriculture had banned the export of organic fertilizers.
India has promised to provide debt-ridden Sri Lanka with over USD 3 billion in loans, credit swaps, and also credit lines since the beginning of the year.
India has also said that it wishes to work with the new Sri Lankan government led by Ranil Wickremesinghe, who was made the Prime Minister after Mahinda Rajapaksa was forced to step down following widespread protests.
Wickremesinghe has promised the people the supply of petrol, diesel, and electricity to the island country will be restored.
Sri Lanka is facing the worst ever economic crisis since its independence with depleted foreign exchange reserves after its tourism industry took a hit because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
An export-dependent economy, the island nation is currently suffering from an acute shortage of food and fuel, soaring prices, and power cuts.
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