Sri Lanka appeals to China to ease debt burden amid economic crisis

President urges rescheduling of payments amid food and electricity rationing after pandemic hit tourism sector

Cash-strapped Sri Lanka has sought to reschedule its huge Chinese debt burden in talks with visiting foreign minister Wang Yi, the president's office said.

The president pointed out that it would be a great relief if debt payments could be rescheduled in view of the economic crisis following the pandemic," President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's office said in a statement on Sunday.