Basil Rajapkasa leaves for India, expected to seal US$ 1b LoC
COLOMBO/ NEW DELHI – Amid a worsening economic situation in Sri Lanka, Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa left on a two-day visit to India on Tuesday (15), hoping to seal a US$ 1 billion line of credit (LoC). He was accompanied by Secretary to the Treasury, S.R. Attygalle.
The Indian High Commission in Colombo on Saturday (12) tweeted that India keenly looks forward to welcoming the Sri Lankan Finance Minister next week.
Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, earlier in January, held a virtual meeting with Basil where the two ministers reviewed the progress in extending the US$ 1 billion Indian credit facility for importing food, essential items and medicine.
As Sri Lanka faces a severe economic crisis, India has continued to assist its neighbouring country in its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, and to mitigate its adverse impact and its developmental priorities.
India has provided more than US$ 500 million in foreign currency swaps to strengthen Sri Lanka’s foreign reserves, taking the total up to US$ 900 million. India also extended the repayment time frame for the US$ 500 million debt of Sri Lanka under the Asian Clearance Arbitration (ACA).
Basil Rajapaksa’s current visit to India comes ahead of Sri Lanka’s talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on a plan for aid for the crisis-ridden country.
The talks, which are slated to take place in mid-April, are likely to include assistance with debt restructuring and managing its foreign exchange shortage.
Reports said that the Finance Minister will travel to the US next month to present the country’s proposal to IMF officials.
Local media reported that the Sri Lanka must repay about US$ 4 billion in foreign debt this year.
The decision to engage with the international lender comes following months of resistance from the government despite calls from opposition leaders and experts for a recovery plan.
Moreover, Sri Lanka’s forex reserves have depleted to US$ 2.3 billion by February 2022.
-ENCL/ANI