[ad_1]
COLOMBO, Nov. 27 (PTI) China said on Sunday it has donated 10.6 million liters of diesel to Sri Lankan farmers and fishermen to boost their work in the worst-affected agriculture and fishing sectors.
Sri Lankan Fisheries Minister Douglas Devananda received the fuel donations here on Sunday.
“The 10.6 million liters of diesel oil donated by China will be provided free of charge to 232,749 farmers to harvest 342,266 hectares of rice fields at 20 liters per hectare,” the Chinese embassy in Colombo tweeted.
A further 3,796 fishing boats under 40 feet will each receive 1,000 liters of water, the embassy added.
Read also | CANADA: 20-year-old Haryana student killed after being dragged by truck in Toronto.
“Thanks to the Chinese government for donating 9,000 metric tons of diesel to strengthen Sri Lanka’s food security,” Electricity and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekara said in a statement.
The agriculture and fishing sectors have been complaining that fuel shortages have hit them hard since the government began rationing them in early August.
The rationing ended the miles-long refueling queues the island experienced from May to July. However, the business sector raised objections, pointing out that the funding was insufficient.
India’s dedicated credit line has ensured the supply of fuel and essential supplies since Sri Lanka’s economy collapsed earlier this year.
India’s aid in the foreign exchange crisis that caused the economic impasse was worth $4 billion.
Sri Lanka, a country of 22 million people, was plunged into financial and political turmoil earlier this year by a shortage of foreign exchange. As a result, the country cannot afford key imports such as fuel, fertilizers and medicines, leading to long queues.
(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from a Syndicated News feed, the body of content may not have been modified or edited by LatestLY staff)
[ad_2]
Source link