In keeping with the Neighbourhood First policy, India is providing essential goods and medical supplies to Sri Lanka

India provided two truckloads of life-saving medicine and equipment to Jaffna Teaching Hospital (JTH) in Sri Lanka's Northern Province on Saturday as part of continuing support to the people of the island nation amid a severe economic crisis.

The supplies were handed over to Director (Acting) JTH Dr Nanthakumar by Consul General of India in Jaffna Raakesh Natraj. More Indian assistance is planned to ensure basic and essential care throughout the island nation's northern region.

Informing about this, the official Twitter account of the Consulate General of India in Jaffna said, "Indian aid to Jaffna Teaching Hospital! Two truckloads of life saving drugs and medical equipment were handed over by CG Shri Raakesh Natraj to Director (Acting), JTH, Dr Nanthakumar today. More Indian aid to follow, to ensure general and critical care continues in Northern Province!"

In keeping with its "Neighbourhood First" policy, India has once again stepped forward to assist Sri Lanka in its ongoing economic crisis.

On Friday, India's High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Gopal Baglay had presented the 1990 Suwa Seriya Ambulance Service with 3.3 tons of necessary medical supplies. This was part of the over SLR 370 mn medical aid delivered from India in the last two months.

Over the past weeks, India has also provided other essential items like rice, milk powder and kerosene.

On Monday, the Consulate General of India in Jaffna handed over relief material that will benefit close to 50,000 families in Kilinochchi and Vavuniya districts.

"Indian aid to Kilinochchi and Vavuniya!
CG Shri Raakesh Natraj handed over relief material that will benefit close to 50,000 families across both districts. Assistance across Northern Province now underway, with almost half the total households here benefiting," CGI Jaffna tweeted.

Relief supplies have also been distributed to a large number of families in Mannar and Jaffna over the past 10 days or so.

These are part of assistance from the government of Tamil Nadu, with 40,000 MT of rice and 500 MT of milk powder being distributed across Sri Lanka.

These supplies are in addition to the ongoing shipments of petrol and diesel to the fuel-starved nation under India's Line of Credit (LoC).