The Tamil Nadu Assembly showed unanimous support to pass a resolution that would urge the Union government to send aid to Sri Lanka in order to combat the ongoing economic crisis last week.
Chief Minister MK Stalin introduced the resolution into the house, addressing the assembly Stalin said “Tamil Nadu would like to help by sending 40,000 tonnes of rice, 137 types of life-saving drugs, and 500 tonnes of milk powder.” Stalin adds that “We can’t see the development in Sri Lanka as the neighboring country’s internal issue.”
In response to the resolution, India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that the central government, "offers that Tamil Nadu Government's assistance can supplement what is being provided by the Govt of India.
“The Government of Sri Lanka's preference is for inclusive distribution," he added.
Previously Stalin met with India Prime Minister Narendra Modi to express his wishes to send aid to Sri Lanka. The initial proposal invovled sending aid to Eelam Tamils and those working in plantations in the Hill Country, but Stalin said he had heard from others who called for aid to be sent to the whole island, adding those calls "moved me."
"I could not control my emotions on hearing this. This is Tamil culture," he said.
Despite the unanimous support for Stalin’s resolution, aid cannot be supplied directly by the Tamil Nadu state government. Rather it must be done with the approval of the Union government. MK Stalin has emphasized that “any help would be meaningful only if extended in time”
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Finance has been in talks with various countries and international institutions in an effort to secure emergency loans to purchase essential goods. The World Bank has agreed to provide 600 million in aid.
