A ceremony was held at the Presidential Secretariat on Monday (19 Feb.), to inaugurate a housing project financed by the Government of India to construct 10,000 houses for plantation sector workers. 

Accordingly, the fourth phase of India’s housing project in Sri Lanka’s plantation sector, named ‘Bharat-Lanka’, will entail building 1,300 houses across 45 estates in ten districts. 

President Ranil Wickremesinghe joined the event virtually with Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha and Minister of Water Supply and Estate Infrastructure Development Jeevan Thondaman, the President’s Media Division (PMD) reported.

The Head of State underscored the government’s commitment to safeguarding the economic and social rights of the upcountry Tamil community, and acknowleding their significant contribution to the nation’s economy, the President expressed intentions to unite political representatives from the upcountry, transcending party lines, to present collaborative proposals within the upcoming month.

President Wickremesinghe also expressed gratitude to the Government of India for their support, particularly on the 200th anniversary of the upcountry Tamil community’s arrival in Sri Lanka. 

He highlighted efforts to negotiate land acquisition from estate companies for housing construction and emphasized the government’s commitment to advancing education standards within the upcountry.

The event was attended by several dignitaries, including State Minister of Irrigation and Water Supply Shasheendra Rajapaksa and Governor of Central Province Lalith U Gamage, highlighting the significance of the housing project and bilateral relations between India and Sri Lanka.

On 28 November 2023, the High Commission of India, signed two significant agreements for the construction of 10,000 houses in plantation areas of Sri Lanka under the 4th phase of the Indian Housing Project.