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Colombo, July 16: India has said that it supports an early political solution to the problems facing Sri Lanka, through democratic means within a constitutional framework.
India has also categorically denied having any role in facilitating the departure or travel of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa from Sri Lanka.
Delineating New Delhi’s policy on the island nation on July 14, the spokesperson of the Indian External Affairs Ministry said that India will continue to stand with the people of Sri Lanka as they seek to realize their aspirations for prosperity and progress through democratic means and values as well as established institutions and the constitutional framework.
The spokesperson said that India will support the people of Sri Lanka in all possible ways in their endeavor to find a way forward.
The commitment India has demonstrated in helping the Sri Lankan people to address challenges arising from the current situation in Sri Lanka underlies India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy as well as the vision of SAGAR – Security and Growth for All in the Region. Moving forward, India’s support and solidarity with the people of Sri Lanka will continue.
The spokesperson noted that India responded with urgency to assist the people of Sri Lanka in overcoming economic hardships and emphasized that India expeditiously finalized and delivered assistance as well as support worth about US$ 3.8 billion in 2022.
Such assistance has been in the form of currency swaps, deferment of repayment of Sri Lanka’s liabilities to the Reserve Bank of India under the Asian Clearing Union mechanism, and credit assistance of more than US$ 1.5 billion for fuel, food, medicines, fertilizers, and other essential commodities.
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Source: NewsAsia
