Indian delegation in Sri Lanka to assess local economic conditions

COLOMBO (News 1st); Four representatives from India have arrived in the Island to discuss and assess the local economic conditions. 

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said in Parliament on Wednesday (22) that Senior Indian Government officials will arrive in Sri Lanka on Thursday (23).

The Foreign Secretary of India Vinay Kwatra arrived in Sri Lanka this morning on a one day visit related to the bilateral assistance provided to Sri Lanka by India in the current economic situation.

The Foreign Secretary is accompanied by Secretary of the Department of Economic Affairs of the Ministry of Finance of India, Ajay Seth, Chief Economic Advisor to the Government of India Dr. V. Anantha Nageswaran and Joint Secretary of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) Kartik Pande of the Ministry of External Affairs of India.

During the visit, the Indian delegation will call on the President and Prime Minister of Sri Lanka. The delegation will also hold discussions with senior officials on the economic situation in the country and the short-term and long-term assistance requirements.

He said that Indian Government Officials will be arriving to assess the local economic conditions.

Wickremesinghe said Sri Lanka is now facing a far more serious situation beyond the mere shortages of fuel, gas, electricity and food.

Sri Lanka will call China, India and Japan to a donor conference to drum up more foreign assistance and present an interim budget in August, the prime minister said on Wednesday, amid ongoing negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).