The iconic Jaffna Cultural Centre (JCC), which was built with grant assistance of the Government of India (GOI), was dedicated to the people on Saturday (11) at a colourful event, in the gracious presence of President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying and Information and Broadcasting, GOI Dr. L. Murugan, High Commissioner of India Gopal Baglay, Douglas Devananda, Minister for Fisheries, Vidura Wickramanayake, Minister for Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs,  Kadar Masthan, Minister of State for Rural Economy, several Parliamentarians and dignitaries from various walks of life, said a press release from the Indian High Commission in Colombo.

It said: Describing JCC as a gift from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Wickremesinghe thanked him and the GOI for the Centre. He thanked India for the support extended to Sri Lanka during the economic challenges. Highlighting cultural similarities between the two countries, he noted that India and Sri Lanka were the two sides of the same coin.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister of State Dr. L Murugan underlined that India’s partnership with Sri Lanka was guided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy. He also announced a special financial assistance scheme to 100 students from economically weaker families in the University of Jaffna. He also highlighted that the GOI have implemented numerous people-centric projects, cutting across sectors in Northern Province.

President Wickremesinghe and Minister Vidura Wickramanayake handed over a special token of gratitude to Minister Dr. L Murugan for the JCC. The wide array of cultural performances showcased the richness and diversity of Sri Lanka’s culture.

The state-of-the-art facility consists of multiple facilities such as a museum of two floors; an advanced theatre-style auditorium for more than 600 people; a  11-storeyed learning tower; a public square which could also act as an amphitheater; exhibition galleries (air conditioned), Open exhibition and a 100-seat Conference facility, among others. The foundation stone for the JCC was laid by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in May 2015, during the first-ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Jaffna.  Following the construction of the JCC, the iconic facility was virtually inaugurated during the visit of External Affairs Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar, to Colombo, in March 2022.

The JCC is an outstanding example of the GOI’s ongoing commitment to the people of Sri Lanka, including in the Northern Province. The GOI’s development partnership with Sri Lanka which touch upon all aspects of daily lives, such as infrastructure development, education, health, housing, livelihood development, etc., currently stands at USD 5 billion.