One thousand plantation sector families over the weekend received keys to newly built houses provided by India. Indian High Commissioner Gopal Baglay conveyed Pongal greetings in Tamil. Baglay stressed that India would stand with Sri Lanka and continue to work for the development of the Indian origin Tamil community. He noted that the community was an organic link between India and Sri Lanka and underlined that the Festival of Pongal represented shared civilisational ties between the two countries.

The Indian HC spokesperson said: ” Handed over houses were built under the third phase of the Indian Housing Project. 4000 houses are being constructed with grant assistance from the Government of India in the plantation areas, spread across seven Districts of Sri Lanka, under this phase for the estate workers in Sri Lanka. Around 3000 houses have already been handed over to beneficiaries till date and handing over of close to 750 houses is being scheduled under this phase. The remaining houses are at various stages of implementation.

The Indian Housing Project is a flagship development assistance programme in Sri Lanka which is being carried out in different phases. 46,000 houses were built/repaired in Northern and Eastern Provinces of Sri Lanka in the first two phases. Another 10,000 houses shall be constructed in the plantation areas in the next phase. This would take the Government of India’s overall commitment under the project to 60,000 houses.

The dignitaries took part in a traditional ‘Maatu Pongal’ ceremony prior to the handing over event, which was attended by thousands and featured cultural performances.

Celebration of Pongal in Sri Lanka attests to the abiding cultural linkages between the people of India and Sri Lanka as well as the shared heritage. Development assistance is a key pillar of bilateral relationship between the two countries. At a total quantum of around USD 3.5 billion, development assistance from India cuts across sectors spanning from infrastructure development to all aspects of daily human lives such as education, health, livelihood, among others.  Estate workers from plantation areas have been at the centre of such assistance and several projects implemented through grant assistance by the Government of India including the 150-bed hospital in Dickoya, multi-purpose hall in Saraswathy Central College in Pussellawa etc., reinforce India’s ongoing focus on the region under the ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy.”

Among those present were Namal Rajapaksa, Minister of Youth and Sports, Minister of Development Coordination and Monitoring and State Minister of Digital Technology and Enterprise Development and Jeevan Thondaman, Minister of State for Estate Housing and Community Infrastructure jointly handed over house keys to more than 1000 beneficiaries from plantation areas of Sri Lanka at a public event in Kotagala. Members of Parliament S.B Dissanayake and M. Rameshwaran and other dignitaries took part in the event.