Main Issues in South Asia Monday, 24 December 2018
SRI LANKA
More than 45,000 people have been stranded by flash floods triggered by heavy rains last night in the northern province. The five affected districts are Mullaithivu, Kilinochchi, Mannar, Vavuniya and Jaffna.
The search and rescue teams have been mobilised together with boats. The Sri Lanka navy and the army personnel have been deployed for relief and rescue missions.
INDIA
On December 21, the Government of India has authorized 10 central law enforcement and intelligence agencies to monitor call and data from any electronic device in the country.
The agencies authorized include Central Board of Direct Taxes, Research and Analysis Wing and the Intelligence Bureau.
PAKISTAN
Last week, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has offered to deposit over $ 3 billion in the State Bank of Pakistan. The deposit will help revive a deplete foreign currency reserve in the country.
Pakistan has been in negotiations with the International Monetary Fund and several of its allied countries to seek economic assistance. The country is in an economic crisis due to a mounting debt and depleted foreign currency reserve.