India extends grant of $250-million to Covid-hit Maldives
(WorldNews India)

India has provided a $250-million grant to the Maldives to help it mitigate the Covid-19 pandemic’s devastating effect on its tourism-based economy. The sum, around Rs 1,825 crore as per the current exchange rate, was provided via Treasury Bond sale to State Bank of India (SBI), Male with a tenure of 10 years for repayment, the Indian embassy in Male said Sunday. This came after a request by Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “The India-Maldives partnership is unique and the Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted this. India will continue to stand by the people and Government of Maldives during these difficult times,” the embassy said in a statement. A...