India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sri Lanka's President Ranil Wickremesinghe stand together, on the day of their meeting at the Hyderabad House in New Delhi, India, July 21, 2023. REUTERS/Adnan Abidi
India

Modi, Wickremesinghe discuss India-Sri Lanka connectivity plans

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday that India and Sri Lanka will conduct feasibility studies on the petroleum line and land bridge connectivity between the countries.

NEW DELHI (Reuters) -India and Sri Lanka will conduct feasibility studies on petroleum line, land bridge connectivity between the countries, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday, after holding talks with the Sri Lankan president in New Delhi.

India's support was critical for Sri Lanka last year after it almost ran out of dollars and sank into a financial crisis that left it struggling to fund essential imports including fuel and medicine.

New Delhi provided about $4 billion in rapid assistance between January and July 2022 to Colombo.

Sri Lanka's President Ranil Wickremesinghe shakes hands with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi before their meeting at the Hyderabad House in New Delhi, India, July 21, 2023.

Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who is on a two-day visit to India, said the two countries have agreed on a "vision" to enhance their economic partnership.

(Reporting by Shivam Patel, Krishn Kaushik; Editing by Himani Sarkar)

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