Basil to visit New Delhi to finalise financial package

Foreign Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris yesterday (14) said that Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa would be visiting New Delhi end of this month to finalise the financial package meant to help Sri Lanka.

Prof. Peiris revealed the impending visit at the regular SLPP briefing at Battaramulla. Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan High Commission in New Delhi issued the following statement as regards the HC Moragoda’s meeting on Feb 11 with Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister of India Nirmala Sitharaman in New Delhi: ” High Commissioner Moragoda thanked the Indian Finance Minister for the personal interest that she has taken in supporting Sri Lanka at this critical time. He also thanked her for the assistance that India has provided to Sri Lanka as envisaged under the four-pillars of cooperation that was agreed during the visit of Sri Lankan Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa to India in December last year.

 The High Commissioner also followed-up with Minister Sitharaman on the early finalisation of the 1 billion USD Line of Credit to purchase essential items, which is part of the four-pillar bilateral economic cooperation concept. Progress in this regard was last reviewed at a virtual meeting between Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa and External Affairs Minister of India Dr. S. Jaishankar on 18 January 2022.

 During the meeting, High Commissioner Moragoda also discussed with Minister Sitharaman the arrangements for the forthcoming visit of the Sri Lankan Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa to New Delhi.

 Nirmala Sitharaman has been the Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister of India since May 2019. Prior to that she was the Minister of Defence from 2017 to 2019. Smt. Sitharaman has also served as the State Minister of Finance and the State Minister (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.”