By Mewati Sitaram
The Indian Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka, H.E. Santhosh Jha, travelled to Pitakanda, Ratotta Estate in the Matale District on August 20, 2024. This visit is part of his tour of the Central Province from August 19 to 21.
The houses being constructed at Pitakanda, Ratotta Estate are part of a larger initiative under Phase III of the Indian Housing Project (IHP). This phase involves building a total of 4,000 homes for estate workers of Indian Origin Tamil Community in Sri Lanka. The project is nearing its completion, highlighting the continued efforts in improving living conditions for the community.
On August 20, 2024, during his visit to Pitakanda, Ratotta Estate, the High Commissioner distributed solar lanterns to the beneficiary households. This initiative is part of the broader Phase III of the Indian Housing Project (IHP), which aims to provide solar lanterns to all 4,000 beneficiary households in the project. The distribution of these solar lanterns will continue to ensure that every household receives this essential aid.
The distribution of solar lanterns is part of a special multi-sectoral grant assistance package of INR 750 million, which was introduced to commemorate 200 years since the arrival of the Indian-origin Tamil community in Sri Lanka. This initiative was announced during the visit of Sri Lankan President H.E. Ranil Wickremesinghe to India last year. The package aims to support various development projects, including the provision of solar lanterns to enhance the living conditions of the Tamil community in Sri Lanka.
Work on Phase IV of the IHP has already begun. This phase will see the construction of homes for an additional 10,000 estate-worker families in Sri Lanka’s plantation regions. The ongoing efforts aim to further improve living conditions for the estate-worker community, continuing the significant impact of the IHP.
Editor in Chief : Mewati SItaram
