COLOMBO – India has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Sri Lanka’s development and improving livelihoods across the island, with the inauguration of a new model village housing project in Kurunegala under a grant-funded assistance program.
Speaking at the handover ceremony of the Pathinigama Model Village on Thursday (4) Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Santosh Jha, said India would continue to remain a steadfast and genuine partner in Sri Lanka’s development journey.
“India will always remain a firm and sincere partner in improving local livelihoods and supporting the holistic development of communities across Sri Lanka,” Jha said.
The housing project was jointly inaugurated by High Commissioner Jha and Minister of Housing, Construction and Water Supply Dr Susil Ranasinghe, who handed over homes to 24 beneficiary families selected under the program.
The event was attended by North Western Province Governor Tissa Kumarasiri Warnasooriya, Deputy Minister of Women and Child Affairs Dr Namal Sudarshana, Kurunegala District MP Sujeewa Indika Dissanayake, senior officials from the Ministry of Housing and the National Housing Development Authority, as well as local administrative officials.
The Model Village Housing Project is being implemented in all 25 districts of Sri Lanka with grant assistance from the Government of India in partnership with Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Housing, Construction and Water Supply. The initiative stems from a Memorandum of Understanding signed between the two governments in October 2017.
The project aims to provide housing for 600 low-income families across the country, with one model village comprising 24 houses established in each district. Beneficiary families are selected through District Housing Committees.
To date, model villages have been completed and handed over in 17 districts, including Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mannar, Mullaitivu, Vavuniya, Batticaloa, Trincomalee, Ampara, Kandy, Matale, Colombo, Anuradhapura, Badulla, Puttalam, Monaragala, Ratnapura and Kurunegala.
According to project officials, overall implementation has reached approximately 98.5% completion, with the remaining model villages expected to be handed over to beneficiaries in the coming months.
-ENCL
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