Colombo: As Sri Lanka grapples with a massive economic crisis, India handed over a large amount of humanitarian assistance consignment worth over Rs 2 billion to the island country which reached Colombo on Sunday.

The High Commissioner of India in Colombo, Gopal Baglay handed over the consignment to the senior leadership of the Government of Sri Lanka, reported Colombo Page. The consignment comprises 9,000 metric tons of rice, and 50 metric tons of milk powder, coupled with over 25 metric tons of drugs and other pharmaceutical supplies.

Talking to Twitter, the Indian High Commission to Colombo said, "A message of care! From the people of to the people of ...High Commissioner handed over rice, milk powder& medicines worth more than SLR 2 billion to Hon'ble FM Prof.G.L Peiris in #Colombo today. Hon'ble Minister @nimaldsilva, @VajiraAbey, @SagalaRatnayaka, @S_Thondaman."

Earlier, the Indian High Commission also tweeted: "People of #India, standing by their bretheren in #SriLanka. Rice, milk powder and medicines worth more than SLR 2billion is scheduled to reach #Colombo on Sunday."

Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Thiru M.K Stalin had flagged off the humanitarian consignment from the Chennai port on May 18. This is the first incoming consignment by the Tamil Nadu Government under a commitment of 40,000 metric tons of rice, 500 metric tons of milk powder, and medicines.

"The Hon'ble Chief Minister @mkstalin flagged off 9000 metric tons of rice, 200 metric tons of spirit powder and 24 metric tons of essential medicines in a cargo ship to Sri Lanka to help the people of Sri Lanka," tweeted the Sri Lankan Chief Minister Office.

The consignment will be distributed among several beneficiaries across the country by the Sri Lankan government, reported Colombo Page. The beneficiaries include Northern, Eastern, Central and Western provinces, covering diverse sections of the society.

Further, various private and social organizations from India have also aided Sri Lanka to meet the urgent requirements of the island country. This support for Sri Lanka among the people of India is in addition to the Government of India's economic assistance, which has totalled approximately USD 3.5 billion since January this year.

Previously, the government of India has also sent out dry rations, medicines, and other essential commodities to Sri Lanka on a grant basis reported Colombo Page.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka is facing its worst economic crisis since independence with food and fuel shortages, soaring prices, and power cuts affecting a large number of the people, resulting in massive protests over the government's handling of the situation.

India is becoming a stronger and more mutually beneficial partner to Sri Lanka. Apart from assistance during the pandemic and fertilizer chaos, in which India delivered nano fertilizer to save Sri Lankan farmers, now New Delhi has pledged nearly USD 3 billion to cash-strapped Colombo through currency swaps, credit lines for essential goods and repayment of loans since January 2022 to help Sri Lanka amid one of the worst economic crises in history.