India Sends 38,000 Tonnes of Fuel to Sri Lanka Amid Crisis Triggered by West Asian Conflict

New Delhi: India has delivered 38,000 tonnes of fuel to neighbouring Sri Lanka as an emergency measure to address the island nation's worsening fuel crisis. The consignment comprises 20,000 tonnes of diesel and 18,000 tonnes of petrol. The Indian High Commission officially confirmed on Saturday that the vessel carrying the fuel had arrived at the port of Colombo.

The emergency assistance follows a telephone conversation held last Monday between External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar and his Sri Lankan counterpart, Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath. The diplomatic engagement was further reinforced on Tuesday when Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake held discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The two leaders focused primarily on the disruptions to global supply chains caused by the West Asian conflict and on strengthening bilateral energy cooperation between the two countries.

Sri Lanka's IOC subsidiary had earlier secured fuel supplies for the month of March from West Asia and Singapore. However, the acute shortage of shipping vessels and severe supply chain disruptions arising from the West Asian conflict left the contracted companies unable to fulfil their delivery commitments. When these companies invoked the Force Majeure clause — citing extraordinary circumstances beyond their control as grounds for non-delivery — India stepped in swiftly to provide emergency fuel supplies.