India has provided support of over USD 3.8 billion to Sri Lanka this year

Reiterating that India stands by the people of Sri Lanka at the time of crisis, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has said that India has been at forefront of extending economic assistance to Sri Lanka and will continue to do so.

"India has been at forefront of extending economic assistance to Sri Lanka as per what they require and we are one of the countries that have provided the maximum amount of assistance at the time of need. We will continue to stand by the people of Sri Lanka in whatever manner we can," Ministry of External Affairs Official Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said while addressing a media briefing.

Replying to a query on Sri Lanka's new President, Bagchi said the Indian High Commission had already put out a statement that this was a parliamentary process. He added that this transition happened through a constitutional framework.

Asked if India was looking at a specific economic package for Sri Lanka at this point in time, the MEA Spokesperson said, "They have a new president and they will take steps ahead to set up a government. They had a discussion with the IMF. We have extended assistance in various ways....some of it has been utilised, some of it has not been fully utilized".

India has extended unprecedented support of over USD 3.8 billion to Sri Lanka this year to deal with the severe economic crisis. Referring to this, Bagchi remarked that no other country had given this "level of support" to Sri Lanka.
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