India Categorically Denies Reports Of Sending Troops To Sri Lanka
Mumbai: The Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka has categorically denied “speculative” reports of India sending its troops to Sri Lanka. This comes as protesters in Sri Lanka entered the President’s official home and set the Prime Minister’s private residence on fire amid the economic crisis.
“The High Commission would like to categorically refute speculative reports in sections of the media and social media about India sending its troops to Sri Lanka. These reports and such views are also not in keeping with the position of the Government of India,” the Indian High Commission said in an official statement.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson today categorically stated that India stands with the people of Sri Lanka as they seek to realize their aspirations for prosperity and progress through democratic means and values, established institutions and a constitutional framework.
The official residence of Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa continues to be occupied, despite President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe agreeing to resign. India stands with the people of Sri Lanka as they seek prosperity and progress through democratic means and constitutional framework and continue to follow the development in the island country, the Ministry of External Affairs said.
Reacting to the situation in Sri Lanka, the Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson said that India is Sri Lanka’s closest neighbour and our two countries share deep civilizational bonds.
“We are aware of the many challenges Sri Lanka and its people are facing and we stand with the people of Sri Lanka as they try to overcome this difficult period,” he said in a statement.
In pursuance of Sri Lanka’s central position in our Neighborhood First policy, this year India has provided unprecedented support of over USD 3.8 billion to improve the dire economic situation in Sri Lanka.
The deteriorating economic situation in the country has added to the tension and, over the past few weeks, there have been reports of several confrontations between individuals and members of the police force and the armed forces at fuel stations where thousands of desperate members of the public have queued for hours and sometimes days.
Police have used tear gas and water cannons at times in a disproportionate manner. On occasions, armed forces have also fired live ammunition.
Sri Lanka is suffering its worst economic crisis since gaining independence in 1948, which comes on the heels of successive waves of COVID-19, threatening to undo years of development and severely undermining the country’s ability to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Follow us on Twitter, Google News and Instagram, and like us on Facebook for the latest updates and exciting stories.
