PTI, COLOMBO: India today handed over the first lot of houses built under a USD 350 million project for Indian-origin people, mostly Tamils, in Sri Lanka’s tea plantation areas.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi joined the special ceremony through video conferencing at Dunsinane Estate in Nuwara Eliya city to hand over the houses constructed under the Indian Housing Project, the largest one by India in any country.
He said that “we have always dreamt of a peaceful, secure and prosperous future for Sri Lanka where aspirations of all for growth and development are met”.
Some 404 houses were handed over to the Indian-origin people, mostly Tamils.
The new houses along with land ownerships were handed over by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, High Commissioner of India Taranjit Singh Sandhu, Ministers Palani Digambaram, Navin Dissanayake and Gayantha Karunathilake, India’s High Commission here said.
“More than 1,500 people attended the function despite inclement weather and rain,” the Indian mission tweeted.
Modi said that India continues to keep Sri Lanka in a special place in its neighbourhood first policy.
Out of the 60,000 houses, close to 47,000 have been completed so far, Modi said, adding that the USD 350 million grant to build the houses was one of the largest grants by India in any country.
“Sri Lanka has been special for us, and it will remain special,” he said.
