India has handed 125 SUVs to Sri Lanka Police as part of the first batch of the planned supply of 500 vehicles for Sri Lankan law enforcement agencies and armed forces under an existing Line of Credit of US$ 100 mn extended by the Narendra Modi government to the island nation.

Manufactured by Mahindra and Mahindra, the SUVs were handed over ceremonially in Colombo on Thursday by the High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka, Gopal Baglay to Lankan Minister of Public Security, Tiran Alles. Other senior officials of the ministry, including Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security S Hettiarachchi and Inspector General of Police C D Wickramarathne were also present on the occasion.

These vehicles with state-of-the-art facilities will help address Sri Lanka’s requirements and augment capacities across the country.

India and Sri Lanka enjoy a multi-faceted and multi-sectoral partnership. In line with its ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy, Government of India’s assistance to the people of Sri Lanka is extended in various forms, including in implementation of various projects under concessional Lines of Credit.

This assistance continues even in the current situation. Till date, Lines of Credit worth about US$ 3.2 billion have been extended to Sri Lanka in diverse sectors including railways, infrastructure, defence, renewable energy, supply of petroleum, fertilizers, etc. Separately, in March 2022, Government of India also extended a concessional Credit Facility of USD 1 billion to GOSL through the State Bank of India for supply of essential items like food, medicines, fuel, etc.

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