Indian Housing Project extends to Kumarawatta Estate Monragala District

In a special ceremony held on August 30, 2018, at Kumarawatta Estate in Monragala District, High Commissioner of India H.E. Mr. Taranjit Singh Sandhu along with Minister of Public Administration, Management and Law & Order Hon. Ranjit Madduma Bandara, Minister of Hill country New Villages, Infrastructure and Community Development Hon. Palani Digambaram and State Minister of Education Hon. V.S. Radhakrishnan, laid foundation stone for 150 new houses being constructed under the Indian Housing Project.

Members of Parliament and Uva Provincial Council, senior Government officials as well as officials from Plantation Human Development Trust (PHDT), Plantation and Estate Management participated in the ceremony. A large number of people from the Kumarawatta Estate attended the function.

Government of India has committed a total of 14,000 houses in the Plantation areas including the 10,000 houses announced by Prime Minister of India H.E. Narendra Modi last year. Agreement between India and Sri Lanka for the 10,000 houses was signed on August 12, 2018 when the first lot of the more than 400 houses built in the plantation areas under the Indian Housing Project were handed over.

Today’s foundation laying marks the extension of Indian Housing Project outside the Nuwara Eliya, Hatton and Badulla regions. IFRC/SLRC is the implementing agency for construction of these houses.

India’s overall commitment of assistance to Sri Lanka for people-oriented development partnership projects stands at a total of around US$ 3 billion, out of which US$ 550 million is pure grant assistance.

Later during the day, High Commissioner also visited Enterprise Sri Lanka National Exhibition – Monragala along with Minister of Public Administration, Management and Law & Order Hon. Ranjit Madduma Bandara.