Indian officials have confirmed the allocation of a "landmark" grant of USD 15 million to enhance the enduring Buddhist ties between India and Sri Lanka. The bilateral agreement for this grant was signed at the President's House in Colombo, with the presence of President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman during her three-day visit to the island nation.

The President's Media Division of Sri Lanka has announced that the initial project funded with USD 15 million will focus on solar electrification at religious sites throughout Sri Lanka. An allocation of USD 10 million has been designated for this purpose. The governments of India and Sri Lanka jointly concluded the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for this substantial project.

The "landmark USD 15 million grant" strengthened Buddhist ties between India and Sri Lanka, the statement said. "This grant is specifically allocated to bolster the longstanding Buddhist connections between India and Sri Lanka, underscoring the deep historical and cultural ties that bind these two nations together," it said.

The statement reports that Wickremesinghe and Sitharaman engaged in extensive bilateral discussions at the signing event of the bilateral agreement. It emphasizes that the grant highlights the importance of fortifying the Buddhist connections between India and Sri Lanka.

According to the President's Media Division, the allocated funds will be directed towards a range of initiatives. These include activities such as the construction and restoration of Buddhist monasteries, enhancing capacity, fostering cultural exchange, facilitating archaeological cooperation, organizing reciprocal exhibitions of relics, and supporting other areas of shared interest.

In response to the changing economic conditions in Sri Lanka, both nations have agreed to adjust the grant amount from Sri Lankan Rupees to Indian Rupees, aligning it with the current market conditions, as stated in the report.

"This adjustment is being formalized through diplomatic Letters of Exchange and Acceptance, signifying a shared commitment to further enhancing these ties," the statement said.

The exchange of these documents was facilitated by Gopal Baglay, the High Commissioner of India, and Somaratne Vidanapathirana, the Secretary of the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious, and Cultural Affairs, as per the report.

While visiting Sri Lanka, Sitharaman also met with the influential Buddhist clergy in the central town of Kandy, recognizing that Sri Lanka is primarily a Buddhist nation.

During her visit, Sitharaman held meetings with Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena and engaged with leaders from the Indian-origin plantation community. Sitharaman's presence in the island nation was in the capacity of the Guest of Honour at 'NAAM 200,' an event organized by the Government of Sri Lanka to mark the 200th anniversary of the arrival of Indian-origin Tamils in the country.

Image source: ANI