Sri Lanka (Commonwealth Union)_ India has undertaken an ambitious initiative to construct an additional 10,000 houses in the tea plantation areas of Sri Lanka, thereby extending its ongoing housing project in the nation. The High Commission of India formalized this commitment by signing two pivotal agreements, focusing on the construction of the aforementioned residences in the plantation regions of Sri Lanka’s Phase-IV Indian Housing Project.
These crucial agreements were entered into with two Implementing Agencies, namely the National Housing Development Authority (NHDA) and the State Engineering Corporation (SEC), emphasizing the expeditious commencement of the construction phase for the designated 10,000 houses. The signatories to these agreements were Eldos Mathew Punnoose, Counsellor and Head of Development Cooperation Wing, Rathnasiri Kalupahana, Chairman of SEC, and Kankanamalage Ajantha Janaka, General Manager of NHDA.
Also read: SRI LANKAN PRESIDENT TO UNVEIL THREE DISTINCT PROPOSALS AT COP28 IN DUBAI
The geographical scope of Phase IV of the Indian Housing Project spans across 11 districts and 6 provinces of Sri Lanka. The government of India has already demonstrated its steadfast commitment to this initiative by completing 46,000 houses in the Northern and Eastern Provinces during the initial two phases. The ongoing third phase, targeting the construction of 4,000 houses in plantation areas, is approaching its culmination. The official statement underscored the significance of housing within the broader framework of India’s people-centric development cooperation partnership with Sri Lanka.
Beyond the Indian Housing Project, an additional 2,400 houses are currently under construction across 25 districts in Sri Lanka through various housing projects. Remarkably, India’s development cooperation portfolio stands at a substantial $5 billion, with approximately $600 million allocated to grants. In the meantime, Indian High Commissioner Gopal Baglay embarked on a train journey from Colombo to Medawachiya, facilitated by a commodious coach provided by India.
The official communication highlighted the pleasurable experience of the High Commissioner during the rail journey and drew attention to the significant contributions made under the Indian Line of Credit by RITES LIMITED, which supplied the spacious railway coaches. Furthermore, the statement acknowledged the substantial riding comfort resulting from track upgrades carried out by Ircon International Limited (IrconOfficial) from Anuradhapura to Omanthai under the Indian Line of Credit. This collective effort seeks to fortify rail infrastructure in Sri Lanka, aligning with the overarching goal of enhancing development cooperation between India and Sri Lanka for the benefit of the people.
According to the Indian High Commission’s statement on X, “Indian High Commissioner enjoyed the journey on #Srilankan Railways from Colombo to Medawachiya. Spacious Railway coaches were provided under #Indian Line of Credit by @RITESLIMITED. Track upgradation by @IrconOfficial from Anuradhapura to Omanthai similarly under #Indian LoC provides immense riding comfort”. It added, “Strengthening rail infrastructure in Sri Lanka for the benefit of the people has been a key area of focus of #India-#lka development cooperation”.
