Foreign Secretary Shringla calls on Sri Lankan Foreign Minister; four projects inaugurated
Colombo, Oct 4 (Agency) Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla on Monday called on Sri Lankan Foreign Minister G.L. Peiris and held discussions on early conclusion of project proposals and enhancing connectivity that would help accelerate Sri Lanka’s economic recovery. Later, the two jointly inaugurated four projects in the housing and education sectors. Along with Sri Lankan Foreign Secretary Admiral (Retd) Prof. Jayanath Colombage, the two sides held delegation level talks to review bilateral cooperation. He also called on the Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa. The Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka tweeted: “Foreign Secretary @harshvshringla called on Foreign Minister Prof GL Peiris to discuss bilateral ties in all spheres. Discussions focused on early conclusion of projects proposals and enhancing connectivity that would help accelerate Sri Lanka’s economic recovery.”
On his meeting with the Finance Minister, the Indian High Commission said the two held talks on economic and commercial ties and post-pandemic economic recovery by taking forward joint projects of mutual benefit. “Foreign Secretary @harshvshringla called on Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa and discussed India-Sri Lanka economic & commercial ties and post-pandemic economic recovery by taking forward joint projects of mutual benefit.” Along with the Foreign Minister Peiris, Foreign Secretary Shringla jointly jointly inaugurated four projects in the housing and education sectors in the presence of several Cabinet Ministers and MPs. “These projects, completed with Indian assistance, exemplify India’s strong and multifaceted development cooperation profile in Sri Lanka,” the Indian High Commission said. The projects inaugurated or handed over virtually during Foreign Secretary’s visit to Colombo include: Handing over of 1,235 houses to beneficiaries under the Indian Housing Project (IHP) Phase III: This project is a part of India’s biggest grant assistance project in Sri Lanka for the construction of 50,000 houses at a cost of INR 1,372 crore across various Districts in Sri Lanka.
Under Phase III of the IHP a total of 4,000 houses are to be built. Out of which, more than 3,500 houses have been completed, construction of around 400 houses is going on and 63 houses are yet to start. 1,235 completed houses under this Phase III were handed over by the FS during his visit. The other project includes: Handing over of houses to beneficiaries under the Model Village Housing Project in Vavuniya District: Government of India is providing assistance to Government of Sri Lanka to construct 600 houses in 25 districts of Sri Lanka under the Model Village Housing Project. The project is being implemented as a High Impact Community Development Project under which 24 houses are being built for low-income families in each of the 25 districts, including Vavuniya District. The project at Vavuniya is complete and was handed over during the visit. The third project includes Inauguration of Vada Central Ladies College in Vadamarachi, Northern Province: Aligned with the Government of India’s continued commitment to build improved educational infrastructure in Sri Lanka, a project for renovation of 27 schools in Northern Province was taken up by Government of India as a grant assistance project at a cost of SLR 250 million. Out of 27 schools, 22 school buildings have been completed and handed over so far.
The Vada Central Ladies College in Vadamarachi is one of the 27 schools taken up for renovation and was handed over during this visit. The fourth project includes, Inauguration of Saraswathi Central College in Pusellawa, Kandy district: This project is being implemented as a High Impact Community Development Project under Indian grant assistance. An MoU was signed between India and Sri Lanka in 2017 for a) construction of a new building to accommodate Science labs, lecture hall, renovation of existing infrastructure of the school; and b) supply of equipment such as ICT equipment, furniture etc. The school building is ready was inaugurated during the visit.