India offers help after surgeries suspended in Lankan hospital

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The information regarding the shortage of medicines was shared by the Sri Lankan Twitter handle Ayubovan….reports Asian Lite News

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday directed Indian High Commissioner Gopal Baglay to help Peradeniya Hospital after the scheduled surgeries were suspended due to a shortage of medicines.

Taking stalk of the crisis, Jaishankar who is on a three-day visit to Sri Lanka tweeted, “Disturbed to see this news. Am asking High Commissioner Baglay to contact and discuss how India can help.”

The information regarding the shortage of medicines was shared by the Sri Lankan Twitter handle Ayubovan.

“Scheduled surgeries at the Peradeniya Hospital were suspended due to a shortage of medicines. Only emergency surgeries are taking place,” tweeted Ayubovan.

While in Sri Lanka, EAM will also participate in the BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting on March 29 in Colombo.

Both Maldives and Sri Lanka are India’s key maritime neighbours in the Indian Ocean Region and occupy a special place in the Prime Minister’s vision of ‘SAGAR’ and Neighbourhood First.

India’s Neighbourhood First policy, accords primacy to nations in the periphery with a focus on encouraging trade, connectivity and people-to-people contact.

The EAM’s visit is testimony to the importance that India attaches to its close and friendly relations with the Maldives and Sri Lanka.

On Monday, Jaishankar called on President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and reviewed various dimensions of India-Sri Lanka’s close neighbourly relationship.

He assured Gotabaya Rajapaksa of India’s continued cooperation and understanding.

“Pleased to call on President @GotabayaR of Sri Lanka. Reviewed various dimensions of our close neighbourly relationship. Assured him of India’s continued cooperation and understanding,” Jaishankar tweeted.

During the meeting, Sri Lankan President thanked Jaishankar for assistance in form of a USD 1 billion credit line.

“Met with Indian Foreign Minister @DrSJaishankar today, and I expressed my gratitude to the Government of #India for the invaluable assistance provided recently via the line of credit, on behalf of the people of #lka,” wrote the official Twitter account of The President of Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka, earlier, this month signed USD 1 billion credit line with India for the procurement of food, medicines and other essential items, amid the island nation’s worsening economic crisis. (ANI)

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