Indian High Commissioner reviews development support to Batticaloa and Ampara

 

Indian High Commissioner Y.K. Sinha visited Batticaloa and Ampara from 23-25 March. He held wide ranging discussions with various stakeholders including Eastern Province Chief Minister Nazeer Ahamed, Eastern Province Minister of Health M.I.M. Mansoor and Batticaloa District Secretary P.S.M. Charles, to assess on the ground the impact of the Government of India’s projects and to understand local priorities and requirements with respect to development assistance.
SEWA Project
On 24 March Sinha reviewed the SEWA (Self Employed Women’s Association) project in Batticaloa, which is being implemented under the Government of India’s assistance. The Rs. 200 million project aims to empower war affected/destitute women in Batticaloa. The High Commissioner also handed over certificates to 20 trainees, who have undergone training in sewing and information and communication technology. The training program was conducted by the ‘Eastern Province Women’s Self Employed Development Cooperative Society’, a society formed by beneficiaries of the SEWA project.
Language Lab Project
In an another event on 24 March at Addalachenai, Ampara, the High Commissioner inaugurated a Language Lab set up by the Government of India under full grant assistance. The Minister of Health, Eastern Provincial Council M.I.M. Mansoor also participated in the event. Speaking on the occasion, Mansoor thanked the Government of India for its continuing assistance in the Eastern Province, covering all sectors. Sinha, in his remarks, emphasised the Government of India’s continued commitment to the development partnership with Sri Lanka.
The Language Lab in Addalachenai is one of the nine Language Labs that the Government of India has set up in each of the nine provinces of Sri Lanka. Three Language Labs in Gampaha (Western Province), Bingiriya (North Central Province) and Kandy (Central Province) have already been inaugurated. Other locations where Language Labs have been set up include Badulla (Uva Province), Jaffna (Northern Province), Matara (Southern Province), Polonnaruwa (North Central Province) and Ratnapura (Sabaragamuwa Province).
The total cost of the Language Lab project is Rs. 84 million. As part of the project, the Government of India has provided 31 computer units and other related equipment, software and latest sophisticated teaching aids to each Centre, and has also trained five master trainers for each Centre. The objective of the project is to help enhance English Language training infrastructure in Sri Lanka; impart training to English language teachers from schools, colleges and universities in Sri Lanka; upgrade their skills; and raise the general level of proficiency in English language of various sections of society.
Housing Project
On 25 March, Sinha handed over houses constructed under the second phase of the Indian Housing Project to beneficiaries in Vaharai, Batticaloa. He also inspected a few houses in the region. The Chief Minister, Eastern Province graced the occasion. In his remarks, he thanked the Government of India for all assistance, including the Housing Project.
The Chief Minister sought further assistance from the Government of India, mainly focusing on transfer of technologies in the fields of agriculture, inland fisheries and small scale industries. In his remarks, the High Commissioner pointed out that in Batticaloa district, more than 1,600 houses have been completed and another 1,000 are at various stages of construction.
While appreciating the progress, he informed that 45,000 houses under the second phase would be completed by end-2015. The High Commissioner also highlighted the Government of India’s fresh Line of Credit of $ 318 million for the railways sector, which was announced by the Prime Minister of India during his visit to Sri Lanka from 13-14 March and in response to a request for greater rail connectivity of the Eastern Province with the rest of the country, he pointed out that part of the fresh Line of Credit extended by India could be utilised for this purpose.