May 07, Colombo: The High Commission of India to Sri Lanka today rejected reports that that a water canon vehicle was imported by Government of Sri Lanka under a credit line extended by Government of India.

“These reports are factually incorrect. No water canon vehicles have been supplied by India under any of the credit lines extended by India to Sri Lanka,” the High Commission tweeted.

The High Commission clarified that the Indian credit line of USD 1 billion to Sri Lanka is intended to help the people of Sri Lanka with availability of food, medicines and other essential items required by the people in the current situation.

“Such incorrect reports don’t make any constructive contribution to the cooperation and efforts undertaken to address the ongoing challenges faced by the people of Sri Lanka,” it said.

Issuing a statement, the Indian High Commission said the Government of India In order to strengthen Sri Lanka’s food, health and energy security extended a concessional loan of USD 1 billion to the Government of Sri Lanka, through the State Bank of India, on March 17, 2022.

The Facility is operational and food items like rice, red chilies have already been supplied under it. Several other contracts for supply of sugar, milk powder, wheat, medicines, fuel and industrial raw materials, based on the priorities of the Government and people of Sri Lanka, have been included under the Facility.

The State Bank of India SBI has released details on the operational aspects of the Facility, which is available at the following link:

https://sbi.co.in/documents/16337/0/060522-Sri+Lanka+USD+1000+mio+facility.pdf/86f4dd1d-2741-e37d-ef88-232c89547f3e?t=1651813727335