By Mewati Sitaram
Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Hon. Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, and High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka, H.E. Santosh Jha, jointly inaugurated and handed over newly constructed houses to beneficiaries under the Sri Shobhita Nahimigama Project in Anuradhapura District. The housing initiative was completed with substantial assistance from the Government of India.
The ceremony was attended by several dignitaries, including Minister of Urban Development, Construction and Housing, Hon. Dr. Anura Karunathilaka; Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development, Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe; Deputy Minister of Urban Development, Hon. T.B. Sarath; Former Speaker of Parliament, Mr. Karu Jayasuriya; Member of Parliament Prof. Sena Nanayakkara; the District Secretary of Anuradhapura; and President of the Sobitha Thero Foundation, Mr. Ravi Jayawardana.
In his remarks, High Commissioner Santosh Jha emphasized the shared developmental goals between India and Sri Lanka, referencing India’s vision of ‘Viksit Bharat’ and the principle of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’, alongside Sri Lanka’s aspiration of becoming ‘A Thriving Nation and a Beautiful Life’. He also highlighted other India-assisted projects in the region, including the Maho-Anuradhapura railway signalling system and the upgraded Maho-Omanthai railway line, and reiterated India’s commitment to continued bilateral cooperation.
Prime Minister Amarasuriya paid tribute to the late Ven. Maduluwawe Sobhitha Thero, whose vision for social justice inspired the project. She expressed her gratitude to the Government and people of India for supporting the initiative, which would benefit historically marginalized communities. Ministers Karunathilaka and Samarasinghe also conveyed appreciation for India’s financial and developmental assistance.
The Sri Shobhita Nahimigama Project involved the construction of 115 houses and supporting infrastructure in Elapathgama Village, located in the dry zone of Sri Lanka’s North Central Province. It was initiated following a request from the Ven. Maduluwawe Sobhitha Thero Commemoration Foundation and is in line with the late monk’s vision for uplifting underdeveloped rural communities.
A Memorandum of Understanding for the project was signed in July 2017 between the Government of India and Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Urban Development and Housing. Under revised terms, India committed over SLR 450 million for the construction of 90 houses, while Sri Lanka funded 25 houses, along with a residence for monks and a library. These Sri Lankan-supported facilities were inaugurated in April 2024. With the official handover of the remaining 90 houses on July 12, the project is now fully completed.
The village, with its new infrastructure and improved living conditions, will now be known as Sri Shobhita Nahimigama, symbolizing a shared vision of progress and strong Indo-Sri Lankan cooperation.
Editor in Chief : Mewati SItaram
