Tamil Nadu CM Stalin meets PM Modi in Delhi, discusses Sri Lanka economic crisis
A tweet by the chief minister's office also said that he raised the issue of development projects in the southern state.
In a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi on Thursday, Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin discussed the Sri Lanka economic crisis, offering to extend support. The 69-year-old Tamil Nadu leader sought the central government's nod for providing aid to the Lankan Tamils, news agency PTI reported.
A tweet by the chief minister's office also said that he raised the issue of development projects in the southern state. He proposed to send relief material, including food and medicines, from Tamil Nadu to Sri Lanka, news agency ANI reported, citing sources. Stalin is on a three-day visit to the national capital.
Sri Lanka is in the grips of one of the worst economic crises in its history. The South Asian country, according to news agency AFP, is already enduring record-long power blackouts. To make matters worse, shortage of diesel has been reported across the nation. On Thursday, the country's stock market restricted trading amid outages.
The Mahinda Rajapaksa government is struggling to pay for essential imports after a 70 per cent drop in foreign exchange reserves over two years triggered a currency devaluation.
Earlier this week, Kerala finance minister K N Balagopal had said the economic crisis in the neighbouring country was a lesson for India. Foreign minister S Jaishakar also offered help during his visit to the country recently.
Meanwhile, Stalin is also set to meet union ministers Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh during his Delhi visit. He will inaugurate the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam's (DMK) new office in the national capital on Saturday.
The inauguration of DMK's new office 'Anna-Kalaignar Arivalayam' is going to be a grand ceremony. The party is likely to invite Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other top leaders at the inauguration ceremony, according to ANI.
(With inputs from PTI, ANI, AFP)