India sends 15,000 liters of kerosene to crisis-hit Sri Lanka

By Saadet Firdevs Apari

ANKARA (AA) - India sent 15,000 liters of kerosene to crisis-hit Sri Lanka on Saturday, according to local media.

The aid is meant to help 700 fishermen and services of electricity ferry in Sri Lanka. India also delivered 25 tons of medical supplies worth $700,000 to the country.

"Part of the consignment will also power ferry service between islands," the Consulate General of India in Sri Lanka's city of Jaffna said on Twitter.

Last week, India delivered 40,000 tons of fuel to Sri Lanka, which is struggling with fuel shortage, and provided humanitarian aid worth $25.7 million.

It also approved a $1.5 billion loan to Sri Lanka.

People took to the streets at the end of March, protesting hours-long daily power cuts and shortages of food, fuel, and other vital goods after a foreign exchange shortage led to Sri Lanka's worst-ever economic crisis.

The weeks-long protests culminated in clashes. As protesters gathered around the prime minister's office earlier this month, military units were called to the capital Colombo.

Amid growing pressure from the opposition, Mahinda Rajapaksa stepped down as prime minister.

The government declared a nationwide curfew and ordered troops to open fire on anyone looting public property or causing harm to life.

In nationwide protests, eight people, including a ruling party deputy and two police officers, lost their lives and nearly 250 people were injured.