India to help set up Information Technology Park in Jaffna with Rs. 250 m grant

India and Sri Lanka yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a Business Centre for ICT incubators/accelerators in Jaffna through a grant of Rs. 250 million from the Government of India.

The MoU was signed by High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka Taranjit Singh Sandhu and Ministry of Development Strategies and International Trade Secretary S. T. Kodikara, at Temple Trees in the presence of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade Malik Samarawickrema, Deputy Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade Nalin Bandara Jayamaha, Member of Parliament Mavai Senathirajah, Export Development Board Chairperson Indira Malwatte, and several other invited guests and senior officials of Government of Sri Lanka.

This project is part of the Government of India’s continued efforts to assist and cooperate with the Government of Sri Lanka in people-oriented development projects. The Business Centre would provide opportunities and enhance the enabling environment for Information Communication Technology (ICT) and other professional services in the northern region.  

Besides undertaking various development projects for rehabilitation and resettlement, the Government of India has constructed a total of 46,000 houses in the region. 1990 Emergency Ambulance Services are operational in the Province. The ongoing development projects in the Northern Province under the Government of India’s grant assistance include: construction of a Cultural Centre in Jaffna; construction of school buildings to 27 schools; construction of 3,000 rain water harvesting units and construction of 25 model villages consisting of 600 houses among others. Across the country, India have completed more than 70 people-oriented development projects and 20 such projects are currently under implementation. India’s overall commitment of development assistance to Sri Lanka stands at a total of around $ 3 billion, out of which $ 560 million is pure grant assistance.