Indian envoy on inspection tour to the East

Chief Guest at the Eastern University Convocation

India’s overall commitment of assistance to Sri Lanka for people-oriented development partnership projects stood at a total of around US$ 3 billion, out of which US$ 550 million was pure grant assistance, the Indian High Commission said in a media communiqué. It said:

“In a special ceremony held on Friday, Indian High Commissioner Taranjit Singh Sandhu dedicated houses built under the Indian Housing Project in Batticaloa to the beneficiaries.

The Government of India has committed a total of 4,000 houses in the Eastern Province. This is in addition to 42,000 houses built under grants by Government of India in the North and 14,000 currently being constructed, also under grants in the Upcountry.

The High Commissioner was the Chief Guest at the convocation ceremony of Eastern University, Batticaloa as well.

He also met the representatives of TNA from Eastern Province and had a brief discussion with a delegation from various Mosque Federations.

High Commissioner also visited the Trade Facilitation Centre by first ever cooperative society of war-affected women in the Eastern Province in Kallady.

Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) –an Indian based community-based organization, with the grant assistance of LKR 197 million

In a special ceremony held on Friday, Indian High Commissioner Taranjit Singh Sandhu dedicated houses built under the Indian Housing Project in Batticaloa to the beneficiaries

from the Government of India has executed the project.

The objective is to empower war-affected women by building their capacities in their respective vocations, leadership, entrepreneurial and management skills by setting up Trade Facilitation Centre and Community Learning Centre in Batticaloa and Ampara, which helps them to provide skills and value chain support to provide livelihood opportunities.

Under the project, SEWA has trained 40 war affected/ destitute women trainees from Batticaloa District. These women were trained in various vocational subjects such as Textiles and Garments; Surface Ornamentation; Agrofood processing; Computers; Enterprise Development; Solar lantern and Roof rainwater harvesting.

Other projects undertaken by India in the social sector include construction of surgical unit in the teaching Hospital Batticaloa, upgrading of Swami Vipulananda Aesthetic School in Batticaloa, construction of 3,400 toilets in Batticaloa District, and setting up of model village in all three districts.

(DS)