Moragoda in intensive consultations with top level in India

There have been intensive consultation in recent days between Sri Lankas High Commissioner in New Delhi, Milinda Moragoda, and senior levels of the Indian Government including Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman who was described as most supportive as has been Foreign Minister S. Jaishanker, well informed diplomatic sources said on Friday.

They said that several billion dollars of Indian humanitarian and bridging finance support for Sri Lankas urgent need for fuel, medicine and food has been pledged. This included India settling

USD 2.5 billion due to the Asian Clearing Union by year-end for later repayment by Sri Lanka, a USD 500 million line of credit for petroleum imports, a further one billion USD for oil essentials and extension of a USD 400 million swap arrangement.

The granting of a further USD 1.5 billion assistance is also under discussion.

Diplomatic sources also said that Colombo is deeply grateful to Indian High Commissioner Gopal Baglay for his support and assistance.