It was the latest of a series of meetings High Commissioner Moragoda has had with Sitharaman since November last year on Indian economic cooperation and assistance to Sri Lanka…reports Asian Lite News
Sri Lanka High Commissioner to India, Milinda Moragoda on Tuesday met with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and thanked her for the brief emergency assistance India has provided to the island nation throughout its difficult period.
The Sri Lankan envoy also briefed the finance minister on Sri Lanka’s ongoing discussions with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the present status of the country’s debt restructuring process, according to the official statement of the High Commission of Sri Lanka in New Delhi. Taking to Twitter, Sri Lanka’s High Commission in New Delhi tweeted, “High Commissioner @MilindaMoragoda met with the Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister of India @nsitharaman today (06) to review the status of bilateral economic cooperation.#lka”
Notably, it was the latest of a series of meetings High Commissioner Moragoda has had with Sitharaman since November last year on Indian economic cooperation and assistance to Sri Lanka in the context of the present crisis, the official statement read.
Additionally, Moragoda informed her of the severe effects that Sri Lanka’s current economic contraction is having on the country’s poor and most vulnerable populations.
The High Commissioner emphasized that India could play a significant role in Sri Lanka’s economic revival through multifaceted economic integration between the two countries by enhancing investments, tourism, and trade. Minister Sitharaman and High Commissioner Moragoda also reviewed the status of bilateral economic cooperation.
Dairy devleopment
Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe has appointed a committee to work with Indias National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) to develop the island nation’s dairy industry.
The committee consisting of representatives of the public and private sectors will work with the multidisciplinary team of the NDDB to prepare a short, medium and long-term plan to increase local milk production to reduce the country’s dependence on imported milk powder.
“The NDDB and India’s Amul Milk Company have taken steps to provide the necessary technical support for the production of liquid milk in Sri Lanka,” the President Media Division (PMD) said.
“It was discussed at length about doubling local milk production by implementing short and medium-term plans and making Sri Lanka self-sufficient in milk in the long run through a targeted program,” the PMD noted.
NDDB’s Senior General Manager Rajesh Onkarnath Gupta, General Manager Sunil ShivprasadSinha, Senior Manager Rajesh Kumar Sharma and other representatives participated in the discussion with officials from Sri Lanka’s Agriculture Ministry and the National Livestock Development Board.
Consuming mostly powdered milk, Sri Lanka imports milk powder from New Zealand and the island nation’s monthly consumption of milk powder is around 6,500 metric tonnes.
According to reports, Sri Lanka spends around $400 million a year for the importation of milk powder.
Various governments have tried to stop importing milk powder and promote liquid milk as drain of dollars has become a major burden on the ailing economy.
Among other essentials milk and powdered milk specially for children went on shortage early this year mainly due to inflation and dollar crunch.
Shortages of other food items, fuel, cooking gas and medicine lead people to take to streets and topple the Rajapaksa government earlier this year. (with inputs from ANI and IANS’ Susitha Fernando)
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