No political conditionality which accompanied the assistance extended to Sri Lanka.

India says that there was no political conditionality which accompanied the assistance extended to Sri Lanka during the economic crisis.

India’s External Affairs Minister Dr.S. Jaishankar said that there was no political conditionality which accompanied the assistance extended to Sri Lanka during the economic crisis.

Speaking at a forum organized by the Asia Society in New York, Jaishankar said, India stepped forward when Sri Lanka was facing a very deep economic crisis, and frankly, when no one else did.

The Minister was responding to a question from an audience member regarding India’s non-reciprocal aid to neighbouring countries, particularly Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

When asked for his views on the recent change in Sri Lanka’s government, which the audience member suggested might be ‘potentially adverse’ for India, Jaishankar said that political changes in Sri Lanka were for the country to decide.