(UTV | COLOMBO) – External Affairs Minister of India Dr. S. Jaishankar on Monday met Sri Lanka’s Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa and discussed with him the island nation’s economic situation and India’s support during its current foreign exchange crisis.
Sri Lanka is facing an acute economic and energy crisis triggered due to the shortage of foreign exchange.
Jaishankar is in Colombo to hold bilateral talks with the country’s top leadership and attend the seven-nation Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) summit.
“Began the visit by meeting Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa. Discussed the economic situation and India’s supportive response. We will continue to be guided by Neighbourhood First,” he said on Twitter.
This is his first visit to the island nation since India extended an economic relief package to bail Sri Lanka out of the current economic crisis.