China To Provide Free Fuel To Sri Lankan Farmers, Fishermen

China will provide fuel to over 12,32,749 farmers and over 3,796 fishing vessels of Sri Lanka.

The Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka said in a tweet that the 10.6 million litres of diesel donated by China will be distributed at no cost to 1232,749 farmers for harvesting 342,266 hectares of paddy fields in Maha season in the 2022/23 season (20L/hectare) and to all 3,796 fishing vessels under 40 feet in length (1,000L/vessel). 

According to a recent report by Geo-Politik, China has shown a strong interest in Sri Lanka, as the report revealed that the communist country is investing in sea cucumber farms in Sri Lanka, which have the potential to improve exercise performance and reduce fatigue.

China also wants to make it easier for the species to be exported from Sri Lanka to China.

However, there have been reports of local farmers protesting, claiming that these aquaculture projects will have a negative impact on their livelihood, the local marine ecology and the land, according to Geo-Politik.

The world knows that China's ambitions know no bounds, but their quest to become the world's most powerful will likely cause enormous harm to vulnerable countries like Sri Lanka.

In recent years, particularly after the Covid-19 pandemic, Sri Lanka is going through an economic crisis. However, from 1 January to 30 April 2022, India disbursed 376.9 USD million in foreign loans and grants, compared to China's 67.9 USD million.

Lanka also reached a preliminary agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a USD 2.9 billion loans, the international lender announced earlier this month, a development that is expected to help the country emerge from its crisis.