Chinese President Xi Jinping offered Sri Lanka's new president his support on Friday (Jul 22), state broadcaster CCTV reported, as the Indian Ocean island grapples with its worst economic crisis in decades.
In his message, Xi said he believes Sri Lanka will be able to move towards economic and social recovery and he is “ready to provide support and assistance to the best of my ability to President Wickremesinghe and the people of Sri Lanka in their efforts”, CCTV reported.
Sri Lanka owes at least US$5 billion to China although some estimates put it at almost twice that amount.
India has also lent it US$3.8 billion and Japan is owed at least US$3.5 billion, according to the International Monetary Fund, with another US$1 billion due to other rich countries.