India and Sri Lanka today reaffirmed their shared commitment to uplift the Indian-origin Tamil community, as the two countries launched Stage II of Phase IV of the Indian Housing Project in Bandarawela, with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in attendance.
Speaking at the event, Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha to Sri Lanka said the project stands as a symbol of the “deep, abiding and special friendship” between the two nations and their peoples.
“This is not just about building houses, but about building futures,” he said, noting that India’s housing assistance now covers 65,000 houses across all 25 districts of Sri Lanka — a grant commitment exceeding Rs. 64 billion.
Under Phase IV of the project, India has pledged 10,000 houses, of which 1,100 are currently under construction, while 4,000 homes under Phase III have already been completed.
He also praised the Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure for supporting the latest stage of construction, which aims to improve living conditions for thousands of estate families.
Highlighting India’s broader development assistance, the High Commissioner cited projects in education, healthcare, skill development and social infrastructure — including the multi-specialty hospital in Dickoya, the Mahatma Gandhi International Centre in Matale, and the ongoing installation of smart classrooms in plantation schools.
He recalled that, in 2023, India had announced a Rs. 2.5 billion special development package to mark 200 years of the arrival of the Indian-origin Tamil community in Sri Lanka, with several initiatives already underway such as a STEM teacher-training program benefiting more than 2,000 teachers.
The envoy further referenced Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent state visit, during which he announced support for developing the Seetha Amman Temple, expected to boost tourism and economic activity in the plantation regions.
“India’s development assistance to Sri Lanka is extended with a sense of family responsibility,” he said. “Our support for the Indian-origin Tamil community is part of our overall commitment to Sri Lanka’s progress.”
Quoting the Tamil poet Thiruvalluvar, the High Commissioner concluded that “a relative’s unchanging love is a source of unlimited growth,” adding that the Indian Housing Project embodies this enduring bond between the two nations.
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