India’s development partnership with Sri Lanka is driven by the priorities of the Government of Sri Lanka and aspirations of its people. At a total quantum of more than USD 4 billion, India has carried out development projects that covers large scale infrastructure and connectivity projects and human-centric projects ranging from health, education, housing, industrial development etc among others.
Implementation of these projects contribute vastly to the local economy as they rely mostly on Sri Lankan contractors and labour for execution.
The ongoing five concessional lines of credit cut across areas such as defence, railways, transport, infrastructure development, connectivity, solar etc. Overcoming the challenges posed by the COVID19 pandemic, these projects have achieved considerable progress in the recent past.
Train service between Mount Lavinia and Kankesanthurai was launched earlier this month. 2021 witnessed the supply of 120 passenger coaches and 2 fully AC Diesel Multiple Units (DMUs) by RITES India Limited. Supply of 750 jeeps for Sri Lanka Police (including 150 jeeps for the Police Special Task Force) and 500 buses for the Sri Lanka Transport Board from India has also been approved
Phase -III of the Indian Housing Project in plantation areas of Sri Lanka is nearing completion. While 1235
houses were handed over during the visit of Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla in October 2021,
over a thousand houses were handed over on the auspicious occasion of Pongal in January 2022. Total of around 50,000 houses have been built across Sri Lanka under this flagship scheme so far. In the next phase, another 10000 houses shall be constructed in the plantation areas.
Testifying to the breadth of India’s development partnership with Sri Lanka, Foreign Secretary also inaugurated a Model Housing Village in Vavuniya, a renovated Vada Ladies Central College in Vadamarachi and a multi-purpose hall in Saraswathy Central College in Pussellawa, all of which were implemented through grant assistance by Government of India.
1990 Suwaseriya emergency ambulance has proved to be of great value during the testing pandemic times. Rabindranath Tagore auditorium in Ruhuna University is a state-of-the-art structure and among the largest such facilities in the Southern Province.
The 5000 MT temperature-controlled warehouse in Dambulla, the first of its kind in the country, is expected to be complete soon. This could immensely aid the farming community in Dambulla area and neighbouring Districts by extending the shelf life of their produce. In a unique arrangement, an Indian and Sri Lanka entity joined hands and formed a Joint Venture solely towards the realization of the project.
Two Integrated water supply projects in Polgahawela and Aluthgama with a support of US$ 91.80 million and US$ 164.90 million respectively are almost 90% complete. They are expected to be commissioned soon.
These projects will touch the lives of more than 750,000 people and fulfill their dream of getting safe and clean tap water.India is associated with more than 80 people-driven grant projects encompassing diverse areas in all parts of Sri Lanka.
