Travelling to Jamaica for the Commonwealth sessions, Mrs Bandaranaike broke journey in Baghdad for four days. She was undertaking the visit in a backdrop of OPEC sharply increasing oil prices and countries like Sri Lanka feeling the direct impact of such changes. During discussions with Vice President Saddam Hussein, Mrs Bandaranaike was able to comprehensively explain the damage being done to developing countries. Finally Iraq decided to supply 250, 000 tonnes of oil on a four year deferred payment scheme at a very low rate of interest, which was a welcome move.