Political instability has increased in the country after Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and President Gotabaya Rajapaksa announced their resignations. India is also not able to help Sri Lanka, which has already been a victim of economic crisis, because of this. Sri Lanka’s foreign exchange reserves are exhausted. His eyes are completely on the International Monetary Fund. However, even if Sri Lanka gets a loan from there, it will hardly be able to recover from this dire situation. India’s concern has increased due to the political and economic situation in Sri Lanka. But India is not able to help him even if he wants to. There are certain reasons for this.
In the current year, India has provided assistance worth five billion dollars to Sri Lanka. Apart from this, preparations are also being made to send the next consignment of medicines and petroleum products to Sri Lanka. Apart from this, financial help to Sri Lanka is also being considered from RBI. But due to no stable government in the country, sending any such help is difficult not only for India but for any country or financial institution. Let us tell you that PM Ranil Wickremesinghe did –
Additional assistance of $5 billion was sought. But since now Ranil has also announced his resignation, then it is not possible for India to give this help. India will have to wait at least till a stable government is formed there regarding lending to Sri Lanka. After India talks with the same government, India will be able to help in this way. There is also a problem with India that even if it gives financial help to Sri Lanka in view of the current situation, then how will it pay it. India is also keeping an eye on the talks between Sri Lanka and the IMF. Therefore, India does not want to take any decision in haste. There is also a problem with India that it can help Sri Lanka only to an extent. This was also acknowledged by caretaker PM Ranil Wickremesinghe. Sri Lanka has a foreign debt of 51 billion dollars. In the current circumstances, he is also unable to repay the loan received from Bangladesh.
In such a situation, it is very important for India to think about this. India cannot fulfill every requirement of Sri Lanka. India also does not want the situation in Sri Lanka to get worse. In such a situation, India’s security can also be threatened. India’s neighborhood being a financially poor nation can raise many concerns. It is also very important for India to think about how the incoming government of Sri Lanka takes a stand on India. This is special because the Rajapaksa government was backed by China. It is because of the pro-China policies of this government that such a condition of the country has happened today. The current situation in Sri Lanka can put it on the wrong track, including the situation of civil war.
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