India allocates Rs 300 crore for Sri Lanka in 2025 budget

India has allocated Rs 300 crore for Sri Lanka in its 2025 budget, the Indian media reported.

India’s Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented her eighth consecutive budget on Saturday (Feb 1).

The budget speech highlighted India’s foreign aid to different countries which saw an increase in aid for some countries.

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) allocated a total of Rs 5,483 crores in aid to foreign nations, which majorly covers allocations for neighbouring and strategic countries.

India’s aid to foreign countries has given primacy to its “Neighbourhood First”, with more than 60 per cent of the budget assigned for immediate neighbours.

As per the budget, Bhutan continues to be India’s largest foreign aid receiver, as it has been allocated Rs 2,150 crore in the 2025-2026 budget. The aid has been hiked from last year’s allocation of Rs 2,068 crore.? (Colombo Gazette)