India sends fertiliser to Sri Lanka to meet sowing requirements

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<strong>India has rushed 44,000 tonnes of urea to the bankrupt Sri Lanka to facilitate in meeting the domestic requirements for the current and the next sowing seasons.</strong></p>
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“Delighted that 44000 MT Urea fertilizer provided by India under Line of Credit reached Colombo & handed over to Govt of LK. It will help to meet farming requirement in current & next cropping seasons,” Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya who is in charge of the chemicals and fertilisers along with the health ministry said in a tweet.   </p>
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He added that India has “proved to be a true friend of Sri Lankan people in their need.”</p>
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Hit by acute shortage of food and fuel, massive protests have erupted in the island nation.</p>
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Angry protestors have stormed into the residence of President Rajapaksa Wickremesinghe while setting fire on Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s private home. Both leaders have now offered to resign on Wednesday.</p>
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Last year, Rajapaksa’s decision to ban chemical fertiliser imports has led to this massive shortage of food. Crop losses amounted to about 50 per cent.</p>
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While Covid 19 pandemic aggravated the country’s economic crisis, the Rajapaksas and their “populist” economic policies have led to the current fiasco. The country has already defaulted on its $51 billion external debt</p>
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The Diplomat in a report said that “mismanaged government finances and ill-timed tax cuts,” have led to the problem.</p>
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The International Monetary Fund (IMF) which has been in talks with the Sri Lankan government for a rescue package is closely monitoring the situation. Talks will now have to be stalled until a new government takes over. This could only further intensify the economic crisis.</p>
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The delay in IMF assistance would only aggravate the economic crisis in the country.  </p>
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<strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.indianarrative.com/world-news/sri-lanka-crisis-gotabaya-finally-agrees-to-go-pm-wickremesinghe-too-will-quit-as-protesters-burn-his-house-183072.html">Sri Lanka crisis: Gotabaya finally agrees to go, PM Wickremesinghe too will quit as protesters burn his house</a></strong></p>