Categories: World

India rushing more petrol, diesel to Sri Lanka as friendly neighbour runs out of fuel

<p>
India is rushing more petrol and diesel to Sri Lanka as the friendly neighbour is down to a single-day’s stock of fuel.</p>
<p>
The island nation has been forced to extend the closure of its schools for another week as transport cannot be run to ferry students and teachers to school.</p>
<p>
The decision to rush the fuel is reported to have been taken after the Sri Lanka high commissioner in New Delhi, Milinda Moragoda, met Petroleum Minister Hardip Singh Puri on the issue.</p>
<p>
Sri Lanka will receive two ships containing petrol and diesel this month and another in August, the Chairman of Lanka IOC, the subsidiary of Indian Oil Corporation, said.</p>
<p>
One ship is expected to arrive between July 13 and 15 and another ship is scheduled to reach between July 29 and 31. The third ship will reach the island nation between August 10 and 15.</p>
<p>
Sri Lanka has received more than 400,000 tonnes of fuel from India over the past three months. However, with the cost of crude oil skyrocketing in world markets, Indian oil companies also face financial constraints on the amount of fuel that they can make available as the demand in the home market has also got to be met, especially at a time when the kharif sowing is on in full swing.</p>
<p>
Sri Lanka’s Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera appealed to the country's expatriates to send money home through banks to finance new oil purchases. A huge foreign debt has left the Indian Ocean island with none of the suppliers willing to sell fuel on credit.</p>
<p>
"Finding money is a challenge. It's a huge challenge," Sri Lanka’s Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera told reporters.</p>
<p>
<strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.indianarrative.com/world-news/french-aero-engine-giant-safran-set-to-debut-production-in-india-181777.html">French aero-engine giant Safran set to debut production in India</a></strong></p>

IN Bureau

Recent Posts

PM Modi interacts with members of Indian diaspora as he arrives in Croatia

Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with members of the Indian diaspora here on Wednesday as…

6 hours ago

Hamburg to host India Week 2025 with 70+ events, celebrating bilateral partnership

The city of Hamburg in Germany is set to host the 11th edition of India…

7 hours ago

Iran’s centrifuge production sites hit by Israeli strikes, IAEA confirms

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has confirmed that two Iranian centrifuge production facilities, TESA…

8 hours ago

Paank condemns harassment of Nadia Baloch in Hudda Jail, links ordeal to state repression of Mahrang Baloch

The human rights department of the Baloch National Movement (BNM), Paank, has strongly condemned the…

9 hours ago

INS Arnala, India’s first indigenous Anti-Submarine Shallow Water Craft, commissioned into Navy

In a major boost to India's coastal defence capabilities, the Indian Navy on Wednesday commissioned…

10 hours ago

UN Rights Chief flags China over Tibet, Xinjiang abuses; calls for release of detainees and legal reform

Volker Turk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, on June 17 expressed concern over…

10 hours ago