Colombo, July 21, 2023: Following President Ranil Wickremasinghe’s successful State visit to India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has publicly confirmed a grant of 750 million Indian Rupees (equivalent to 3 billion Sri Lankan Rupees) to uplift and transform the lives of Indian Origin Tamil communities residing in Sri Lanka’s plantation regions.
This financial support is reflective of the strong bilateral relations between India and Sri Lanka and has been credited to Minister of Water Supply and Estate Infrastructure Development, Jeevan Thondaman’s consistent efforts and collaborative vision for the plantation regions of Sri Lanka. The grant will be utilised to focus on planned development activities with a significant emphasis on advancing education, skills training, and employment opportunities for the plantation communities. These interventions are expected to have a positive socio-economic impact, empowering plantation communities and enabling them to seize new growth opportunities.
Moreover, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his full support for President Wickremasinghe’s proposal to establish new higher education institutes in Sri Lanka, including the University of Nuwara Eliya. The new university, also an initiative driven by Minister Thondaman, promises to become a beacon of educational excellence and progress in the upcountry region. With India’s backing, the University is poised to nurture talent, promote research, and address the specific needs of the local community and the nation at large.
