Colombo: India, which is doing all the possible to help its crisis-hit neighbour Sri Lanka, has sent a shipment of 11,000 MT of rice and it reached the island nation on Tuesday. The export was meant to help Sri Lankans celebrate the traditional national new year.

Sri Lanka, which is reeling from a financial crisis, will celebrate its Tamil and Sinhala new year on April 13 and April 14. For the island residents, these two events are the biggest festivals.

The Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka stated that the shipment reached Colombo on board a ship ahead of the New Year celebration.

According to the statement, "16,000 MT of rice was given under India's multi-pronged assistance to Sri Lanka in the last week alone."

These shipments, which symbolise India's particular relationship with Sri Lanka, will continue, according to the Indian High Commission.

Following a previous USD 500 billion line of credit in February, India recently announced a USD 1 billion line of credit to Sri Lanka as part of its financial aid to the country to deal with the economic crisis. Indian credit lines to boost reserves and imports of basics have given the economy a short reprieve.

People in the country are suffering from a lack of basic necessities as well as long periods of power outages.

The administration has recently begun the process of seeking a bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), despite widespread street protests asking for President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's resignation for mishandling the economic crisis.

Sri Lanka is in the grip of its biggest economic crisis since gaining independence from the United Kingdom in 1948.

11,000 MT rice from #India reached #Colombo on board ship Chen Glory today ahead of New Year celebration by people of. 16,000 MT rice supplied under 's multi-pronged support to in the past week alone.These supplies which mark the special bond between & will continue. pic.twitter.com/PF3yE626hl

— India in Sri Lanka (@IndiainSL) April 12, 2022