Indian diplomat highlights India's unique bond with Sri Lanka's eastern province
- In Reports
- 05:50 PM, May 06, 2024
- Myind Staff
Indian envoy Santosh Jha emphasized the importance of the Eastern Province in the connectivity initiatives between India and Sri Lanka during his visit to the three districts in the province. Jha conducted a review of various projects assisted by India during his visit.
During last week's visit, India's High Commissioner in Sri Lanka, Santosh Jha, highlighted a multi-sectoral grant assistance package comprising 33 different projects across the province, covering diverse areas.
An official statement mentioned ongoing discussions between the two governments to collaborate on the comprehensive development of Trincomalee. Jha assessed several projects being implemented by the Government of India for the province's residents and visited various sites of historical, cultural, and commercial importance.
The High Commissioner also emphasized the significance of various connectivity and energy projects underway between India and Sri Lanka, underscoring the substantial advantages they would offer to the Eastern Province.
According to the statement, the Eastern Province holds a pivotal role in connectivity initiatives between the two countries, with the High Commissioner reaffirming India's readiness to collaborate closely with the relevant authorities in Sri Lanka on these endeavors.
Jha assessed the advancement of the construction of the Surgical Unit at Teaching Hospital Batticaloa, which India is funding through grant assistance. The facility is anticipated to be finished shortly.
Additionally, he toured the Model Village Housing Projects in Batticaloa and Trincomalee, which constitute part of a larger initiative. Under this project, India is constructing a total of 600 houses across 25 districts in Sri Lanka to provide housing for vulnerable and homeless families.
In separate meetings, he urged stakeholders to actively pursue the swift completion of the 5,000 MT temperature-controlled warehouses in Dambulla. This facility, the first of its kind in the country, will significantly reduce post-harvest losses for farmers in the region.
Additionally, during a site visit to the proposed solar facility in Sampur, he expressed confidence that work would commence promptly.
During his visit, the High Commissioner toured several facilities of the Lanka Indian Oil Corporation (LIOC) in Trincomalee. He highlighted the company's remarkable contribution in mitigating the adverse effects of the energy crisis in 2022 during these interactions.
Image source: The Hindu
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