Bankrupt country, Sri Lanka asks foreigners to send money to buy food

COLOMBO, KOMPAS.com – Sri Lanka urged its citizens overseas to send money to the country to help buy basic needs and fuel on Wednesday (13/4/2022).

The insistence was issued by Sri Lanka’s central bank after the island nation went bankrupt and announced a default on its US$51 billion (Rp 732 trillion) foreign debt.

Sri Lanka is currently in the grip of its worst economic crisis since independence in 1948, as reported by AFP.

Also read: Foreign Exchange Ludes, Sri Lanka Failed to Pay All Foreign Debts Worth 732 Trillion

In recent days, the country has had a severe shortage of essential goods and power cuts.

Protests also took place demanding the government of Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to step down due to soaring prices of basic necessities.

Central bank governor Nandalal Weerasinghe said he needed overseas immigrants and the diaspora to support the country at a critical time by contributing much-needed foreign exchange.

Weerasinghe made the call after the Sri Lankan government announced a suspension of all foreign debt payments.

Also read: Sri Lankan doctors forced to work without electricity and medicine due to crisis: like a nightmare

The government will disburse money to replenish the dwindling supply of fuel, medicine and other necessities.

Weerasinghe said he had set up bank accounts for donations in the US, UK and Germany.

He also promised Sri Lankan nomads abroad that the donation money would be spent on what was most needed.

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