October 23, 2022
2 mins read

Lanka to import food aid from Indian LOC

Sri Lanka’s Treasury is to inform India the essential items by next week…reports Asian Lite News

Facing a severe food crisis, Sri Lanka has decided to import some essential food items from a total of $120 million remaining from the Indian Line of Credit (LOC) that was given to purchase various other items but remained unutilised so far.

A selected number of essential food items are planned to be imported out of $1 billion LOC extended in March this year. The LOC had been extended for the procurement of food, medicines, and other essential items from India.

Trade, Commerce, and Food Security Minister Nalin Fernando told media that the requirement of essential food items have been forwarded and awaiting the response. The food requirements also to be forwarded to the committees appointed to study the Indian LOC through the Finance Ministry, he added.

Sri Lanka’s Treasury is to inform India the essential items by next week.

Media reports indicated that nearly 40 per cent of the Indian LOC still remained unutilised, though the country has a shortage of many essential items. Affected by shortage of some of the essential medicines, the Health Ministry had recently expedited the procurement of medicines using the Indian LOC. However depending on most of the imported food items, the country is facing severe shortages of many food items.

Releasing the Complex Emergency Needs Assessment Report on Sri Lanka’s worst ever economic crisis since independence in 1948, the International Federation of Red Cross last week revealed that 96 per cent of Sri Lankans have been affected by the crisis with some pressing issues of food insecurity, health concerns, livelihoods, and nutrition.

“The deepening economic crisis is forcing people to make heart-breaking choices between going hungry, buying life-saving medicine, or finding the money to send children to school,” the report, prepared after surveying 2900 households and case studies of 10 estates in the tea plantation sector where most low waged poor reside, stated.

The report has noted that Sri Lanka is experiencing a “worryingly high problems of access to food, either because of high cost, income stress or lack of availability. Runaway inflation and loss of livelihoods have doubly impacted people’s ability to cope with the record cost of living. Income loss is causing significant food insecurity, while inflation is driving up the cost of medicine and fuel costs are preventing access to essential healthcare”.

It warned that without immediate humanitarian interventions, the impact on communities in the Indian Ocean Island is likely to be long-lasting and cumulative.

ALSO READ-On Indian food aid to Af, UN says humanitarian help should arrive ‘swiftly’

Previous Story

Peace talks between Ethiopian govt, rebels to be held next week

Next Story

India beat Pakistan by 4 wickets, Kohli @ 82

Latest from -Top News

‘Kill and Dump’ Haunts Balochistan Again

The latest killings have reignited accusations of extrajudicial executions and the use of counterterrorism laws to cover up custodial deaths in Balochistan….reports Asian Lite News Concerns have deepened across Balochistan following the

‘ASEAN Expands, But Keeps Its Soul’

Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan urged ASEAN to uphold its unity and strategic resolve amid intensifying geopolitical tensions and mounting external pressures…reports Asian Lite News Consensus and inclusivity will remain the cornerstones

Bangladesh bends to beat Trump’s blow

Dhaka seeks compromise as Trump’s 35% tariff looms large over key exports; Washington urges worker protections, factory relocation to US…reports Asian Lite News Bangladesh has opened the second round of critical trade

China seethes as US lands F-35s in PH

As US F-35 jets land in the Philippines for the first time, Manila cements its frontline role in Washington’s power play against rising China….reports Asian Lite News The Philippines is rapidly cementing
Go toTop

Don't Miss

Navy chief discusses defence cooperation with Lankan PM, Prez

Admiral Hari Kumar Indian Navy arrived in Colombo on December

Curfew in Lanka to curb protests

Ahead of Sunday’s protest, on Friday night, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa