India hands over 155 houses in Bridwell, Bogawantalawa, Hatton

In a special ceremony held on 24 February, at Bridwell Estate in Bogawantalawa, Hatton, 155 houses built under the Indian Housing Project were handed over to the beneficiaries jointly by Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Ranil Wickremesinghe and High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka Taranjit Singh Sandhu in the presence of Minister for Hill country New Villages, Infrastructure and Community Development Palani Digambaram.

Several Members of Parliament and Central Provincial Council, senior officials from Plantation Human Development Trust (PHDT), Implementing Agency – Sri Lanka Red Cross, Bogawantalawa Regional Plantation Company and a large number of people from the region attended the function.

The High Commissioner in his remarks on the occasion, congratulated the proud owners of the newly built independent houses. He underscored that the Indian Housing Project in Sri Lanka with a grant of over $ 350 million (close to Rs. 50 billion), was the largest Indian grant assistance project in any country abroad. He also recalled that out of the total commitment of 63,000 houses, 47,000 houses had already been built. Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Ranil Wickremesinghe in his remarks thanked Prime Minister, Narendra Modi and the Government of India for the development support extended to India.

Expressing India’s support for realisation of Sri Lanka’s developmental priorities, he reiterated the Government and people of India’s commitment to participate with the people of Sri Lanka in their journey towards greater peace and prosperity.