Sri Lanka (Commonwealth Union)_ Political leaders in Sri Lanka have expressed gratitude to India’s External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar for his efforts in promoting Sri Lankan tourism and encouraging people to consider the island nation for their next vacation. Accordingly, former Sri Lankan Member of Parliament Sajith Premadasa, acknowledged and deeply appreciated Jaishankar’s endeavors in championing Sri Lankan tourism, extending a warm welcome to Indian friends to explore the rich cultural tapestry of the country. Taking to social media, Premadasa stated, “Deeply appreciate @DrSJaishankar efforts in championing tourism in Sri Lanka. We warmly welcome all our Indian friends to experience the rich tapestry of our culture. #Gratitude #Hospitality.”
Additionally, Sanath Jayasuriya, former Member of Parliament and ex-Sri Lankan cricketer, also expressed gratitude to Jaishankar for promoting Sri Lankan tourism and supporting the island during challenging times, emphasizing the priceless value of India’s support for Sri Lankan tourism. Jayasuriya shared on social media, “Special thanks to His Excellency Indian External Affairs Minister @DrSJaishankar for your support during our darkest time through words and deeds. Also, India’s support for Sri Lankan tourism is priceless to us.”
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These commendations followed Jaishankar’s remarks at an event where he encouraged people to choose Sri Lanka as their holiday destination, underscoring India’s support for its southern neighbor. He stated, “My first advice to you is that the next time you want to take a holiday, go to Sri Lanka. I’m serious. Please go to Sri Lanka. I say this to all of you”. He elaborated that the average Sri Lankan citizen holds India in high regard because the only nation that extended assistance to Sri Lanka during its economic crisis, when the rest of the world turned its back, was India. He said, “I had visited Sri Lanka and saw firsthand the fuel queues and shortage of food and essential commodities. The only country that came forward at this time was India”.
Furthermore, the Indian Minister of External Affairs added that India had pledged $4.5 billion in aid to Sri Lanka at that time. “They negotiated with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a long time. He said, “The IMF should have been from where the help should have first come from. The IMF package was less than US$ 3 billion”. S. Jaishankar, the Indian minister, added that the amount of money India promptly and effectively contributed to Sri Lanka was fifty percent greater than the amount proposed by the IMF.
The ministerial statement was delivered in reply to a query regarding allegations that neighboring nations were shifting their allegiances away from India. Sri Lanka has faced severe economic challenges recently, exacerbated by Covid-induced lockdowns impacting the crucial tourism sector. Mounting bad loans and economic stress, along with foreign exchange and debt crises, further intensified the country’s troubles. In the face of these challenges, India has stepped in to provide assistance, extending a line of credit and timely support to help Sri Lanka recover from its extreme economic crisis.
