Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Sunday (March 29) thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for sending an emergency fuel shipment to ease supply disruptions in the island nation triggered by the West Asia conflict.&nbsp;A consignment of 38,000 metric tonnes (MT) of fuel, &nbsp;including 20,000 MT of diesel and 18,000 MT of petrol, reached Colombo on Saturday. The shipment arrived as part of emergency support through the local operations of Indian Oil Corporation via Lanka IOC.&nbsp;“Spoke with PM @narendramodi a few days ago about the fuel supply disruptions Sri Lanka is facing due to the Middle East conflict. Grateful for India’s swift support. 38,000 MT of fuel arrived in Colombo yesterday,” Dissanayake posted on X.&nbsp;The Sri Lankan President also thanked External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar for his support. “My thanks also to EAM @DrSJaishankar for his close coordination”, he said.&nbsp;&nbsp;Sri Lanka’s Member of Parliament Namal Rajapaksa hailed India’s ‘Neighbourhood First policy’ and called for the country’s government to consider a model similar to India’s recent fuel tax adjustment.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Spoke with PM <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@narendramodi</a> a few days ago about the fuel supply disruptions Sri Lanka is facing due to the Middle East conflict. Grateful for India’s swift support. 38,000 MT of fuel arrived in Colombo yesterday. My thanks also to EAM <a href="https://twitter.com/DrSJaishankar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DrSJaishankar</a> for his close coordination.&mdash; Anura Kumara Dissanayake (@anuradisanayake) <a href="https://twitter.com/anuradisanayake/status/2038161871027749214?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 29, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

"Prime Minister Modi and the people of India once again uphold the Neighbourhood First policy through the timely shipment of 38,000 tonnes of petroleum to Sri Lanka," Rajapaksa said in a post on X, adding that the nation has consistently stood as Sri Lanka’s first responder in times of crisis, from critical supplies to economic assistance, which is a true reflection of its Neighbourhood First policy.&nbsp;Citing India’s recent change in fuel excise policy, he called upon the Sri Lankan government to consider a model similar to India’s recent fuel tax adjustment. "India reduced excise duty not to lower prices immediately, but to stabilise the market and prevent further increases during global oil price shocks," he noted.&nbsp;"As Sri Lanka moves forward, the government must also strengthen its own economic policies. While fiscal discipline is important, reducing excessive tax burdens, as seen in India’s more growth-oriented approach, could help stimulate investment, ease pressure on citizens, and support long-term recovery," the MP said.&nbsp;Sri Lanka continues to face a deepening energy crisis as the ongoing West Asia conflict disrupts global fuel supplies. The government has rationed fuel and introduced a four-day working week in the state sector as a measure to conserve energy.&nbsp;Most state institutions, schools and universities have shifted to reduced schedules, while transport services have seen lower activity. Banks are operating on shorter hours, and several private firms have adopted work-from-home arrangements to curb energy use.&nbsp;Fuel prices in the country have already risen sharply after strikes involving the United States and Israel on Iran escalated tensions, triggering retaliatory attacks that have disrupted global energy supplies. The conflict intensified in the second week of March as attacks targeted energy assets, including oil tankers, refineries and LNG facilities.

A consignment of 38,000 metric tonnes (MT) of fuel,  including 20,000 MT of diesel and 18,000 MT of petrol, reached Colombo on Saturday. 

Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Sunday (March 29) thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for sending an emergency fuel shipment to ease supply disruptions in the island nation triggered by the West Asia conflict. A consignment of 38,000 metric tonnes (MT) of fuel, including 20,000 MT of diesel and 18,000 MT of petrol, reached Colombo on Saturday. The shipment arrived as part of emergency support through the local operations of Indian Oil Corporation via Lanka IOC. “Spoke with PM @narendramodi a few days ago about the fuel supply disruptions Sri Lanka is facing due to the Middle East conflict. Grateful for India’s swift support. 38,000 MT of fuel arrived in Colombo yesterday,” Dissanayake posted on X. The Sri Lankan President also thanked External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar for his support. “My thanks also to EAM @DrSJaishankar for his close coordination”, he said. Sri Lanka’s Member of Parliament Namal Rajapaksa hailed India’s ‘Neighbourhood First policy’ and called for the country’s government to consider a model similar to India’s recent fuel tax adjustment.

A consignment of 38,000 metric tonnes (MT) of fuel, &nbsp;including 20,000 MT of diesel and 18,000 MT of petrol, reached Colombo on Saturday.&nbsp;

Sri Lankan President Dissanayake thanks PM Modi as India sends 38,000 MT emergency fuel

Sri Lankan Minister of state in ministry of foreign affairs Tharaka Balasuriya has termed India-Sri Lanka ties "at all time high" and thanked India for its support during the economic crises. India extended support to Sri Lanka with a package of over $4 bn. Speaking to our diplomatic correspondent Siddhant Sibbal, he said, "We are looking at connectivity with India in a large way", and backed trading in National currencies. The Minister of State is in Delhi for BIMSTEC foreign ministers retreat & pointed to "political will" in the grouping to take it forward. Watch in for more details!

India-Sri Lanka ties: "All time high.." says Sri Lankan Minister Tharaka Balasuriya

Sri Lanka will adopt an "India first approach" as its new foreign policy plank and protect New Delhi's strategic security interests, the country's Foreign Secretary Jayanath Colombage has said as he sought to allay concerns amid China's growing presence in the island nation.

Admiral Colombage became the first-ever foreign secretary from a military background when he was appointed by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to head the Foreign Ministry on August 14.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/as-china-eyes-sri-lanka-indias-quad-alliance-can-push-back-the-dragon-317066">As China eyes Sri Lanka, India's Quad alliance can push back the Dragon</a>

In an interview published by Daily Mirror on Wednesday, Colombage said Sri Lanka is to adopt an 'India first approach' as its new regional foreign policy plank.

"That means Sri Lanka will not do anything harmful to India's strategic security interests," said Colombage, who was the chief of the Sri Lanka Navy between 2012-14 and later became a foreign policy analyst mostly on the Chinese initiatives in Sri Lanka and the immediate region.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-dispatch-sri-lanka-wants-its-debt-trap-hambantota-port-back-314721/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Colombage said that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa would have an India first approach as the key to strategic security.

''China is the second-largest economy and India is considered the sixth-largest. In 2018 India was the world's fastest-growing economy. That means we are between two economic giants,''&nbsp;he said.

"Sri Lanka cannot afford, should not afford and will not afford any particular country to use it as a staging area to do anything against another country, especially so India," he said.

Commenting on the Chinese investment in the southern port of Hambantota, Colombage says that Sri Lanka had offered India Hambantota first.

India did not undertake it for whatever reason, then it went to a Chinese company,&nbsp;he said.

Now we have given 85 per cent stake of Hambantota port to China Merchant Holding Company. That should be limited to commercial activities. It is zero for military purposes," he said.

Colombage said that despite opposition from port worker trade unions, President Rajapaksa would go ahead with the memorandum of cooperation signed with India on the Colombo Port's Eastern terminal.

Colombo Port is the largest and busiest port in Sri Lanka. Located on the southwestern shores on the Kelani River, it serves as an important terminal in Asia due to its strategic location in the Indian Ocean.

The previous Sirisena government had signed a "memorandum of cooperation" (MOC) with India and Japan for a tripartite effort to develop the terminal which is located just next to the USD 500 million Chinese-run Colombo International Container Terminal.

''The President has said that he is ready to honour the agreement. As per the new guidance of the President, no national asset is given with total control to any country," he said.

Colombage said that the Rajapaksa foreign policy shift would mean that Sri Lanka would not be anymore reliant on a West-oriented policy.

The most dynamic foreign office officials would be posted in Sri Lanka's neighbourhood, in the Middle East, Bangladesh, Africa and ASEAN in line with the new foreign policy shift where the emphasis would be on the neighbourhood.

China has been making significant forays into Sri Lanka, especially in the defence field. Beijing's activities have caused regional concerns, especially in India.

Sri Lankan in 2017 handed over the Hambantota port to China on a 99-year lease. There are regional concerns, mostly from India, that China may make a military presence at Hambantota, located on a key sea international shipping route.

Sri Lanka will adopt an "India first approach" as its new foreign policy plank and protect New Delhi's strategic security interests, the country's Foreign Secretary Jayanath Colombage has said as he sought to allay concerns amid China's growing presence in the island nation.

Sri Lanka will adopt an "India first approach" as its new foreign policy plank and protect New Delhi's strategic security interests, the country's Foreign Secretary Jayanath Colombage has said as he sought to allay concerns amid China's growing presence in the island nation. Admiral Colombage became the first-ever foreign secretary from a military background when he was appointed by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to head the Foreign Ministry on August 14. Also read: As China eyes Sri Lanka, India's Quad alliance can push back the Dragon In an interview published by Daily Mirror on Wednesday, Colombage said Sri Lanka is to adopt an 'India first approach' as its new regional foreign policy plank. "That means Sri Lanka will not do anything harmful to India's strategic security interests," said Colombage, who was the chief of the Sri Lanka Navy between 2012-14 and later became a foreign policy analyst mostly on the Chinese initiatives in Sri Lanka and the immediate region. Colombage said that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa would have an India first approach as the key to strategic security. ''China is the second-largest economy and India is considered the sixth-largest. In 2018 India was the world's fastest-growing economy. That means we are between two economic giants,'' he said. "Sri Lanka cannot afford, should not afford and will not afford any particular country to use it as a staging area to do anything against another country, especially so India," he said. Commenting on the Chinese investment in the southern port of Hambantota, Colombage says that Sri Lanka had offered India Hambantota first. India did not undertake it for whatever reason, then it went to a Chinese company, he said. Now we have given 85 per cent stake of Hambantota port to China Merchant Holding Company. That should be limited to commercial activities. It is zero for military purposes," he said. Colombage said that despite opposition from port worker trade unions, President Rajapaksa would go ahead with the memorandum of cooperation signed with India on the Colombo Port's Eastern terminal. Colombo Port is the largest and busiest port in Sri Lanka. Located on the southwestern shores on the Kelani River, it serves as an important terminal in Asia due to its strategic location in the Indian Ocean. The previous Sirisena government had signed a "memorandum of cooperation" (MOC) with India and Japan for a tripartite effort to develop the terminal which is located just next to the USD 500 million Chinese-run Colombo International Container Terminal. ''The President has said that he is ready to honour the agreement. As per the new guidance of the President, no national asset is given with total control to any country," he said. Colombage said that the Rajapaksa foreign policy shift would mean that Sri Lanka would not be anymore reliant on a West-oriented policy. The most dynamic foreign office officials would be posted in Sri Lanka's neighbourhood, in the Middle East, Bangladesh, Africa and ASEAN in line with the new foreign policy shift where the emphasis would be on the neighbourhood. China has been making significant forays into Sri Lanka, especially in the defence field. Beijing's activities have caused regional concerns, especially in India. Sri Lankan in 2017 handed over the Hambantota port to China on a 99-year lease. There are regional concerns, mostly from India, that China may make a military presence at Hambantota, located on a key sea international shipping route.

Sri Lanka will follow 'India first policy', says Foreign Secretary Jayanath Colombage

Sri Lanka's New President Arrives In India. Gotabaya Was Given A Ceremonial Welcome.

Gravitas: Gotabaya arrives in India: Fresh start for India-Sri Lanka ties?

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Sri Lankan President Dissanayake thanks PM Modi as India sends 38,000 MT emergency fuel

India-Sri Lanka ties: "All time high.." says Sri Lankan Minister Tharaka Balasuriya

Sri Lanka will follow 'India first policy', says Foreign Secretary Jayanath Colombage

Gravitas: Gotabaya arrives in India: Fresh start for India-Sri Lanka ties?