The Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka handed over new houses constructed under the Indian Housing Program to around 155 beneficiaries in Bridwell Estate, Bogawantalawa.
Ranil Wickremesinghe, Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, High Commis- sioner for India in Sri Lanka, Ministers Palani Digambaram, Gayantha Karunathilake, Mano Ganesan, and Radhakrishnan, and Members of Parliament, Handing over new houses in Bogawantalawa senior officials of Government, estate management, officials from Plantation Human Devel- opment Trust, Implementing Agency IFRC and the Sri Lanka Red Cross and the owners of the new houses were present at the official ceremony to hand over the houses.
The Sri Lankan housing project is the largest grant project ever undertaken by India in any country abroad. The total number of houses committed by India in Sri Lanka is 63,000, a grant assistance close to 50 billion rupees. Out of these, the Government of India has already completed construction of 47,000 houses in Sri Lanka.
Speaking at the event, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, High Commissioner for India in Sri Lanka said, “We want to see smiles in each of your faces. With this aim, India has undertaken people-oriented development projects across the Island and has completed 70 such projects and about 20 more are currently under progress. All these projects are under pure grant. These are gifts to you from the people of India.”
Under the Model Village Housing Program, India will construct 1,200 houses in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka, in addition to the houses being built under the Indian Housing Program, stated the Indian High Commissioner.
