New Delhi, Sept. 18 -- The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday outlined the scale of India's development and financial support to the Maldives, revealing that the Indian government absorbed approximately USD 45 million in interest payments over five years to ease financial pressure on Male as the island nation fully settled its USD 150 million Treasury bill facility.

Speaking at a bi-weekly media briefing, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that while Maldivian authorities paid the principal amount, India bore the entire USD 45 million interest burden over the five-year tenure.

"It may also be noted that while the principal amount of the Treasury bills was paid by the Government of Maldives, the interest payment of all the U...