During his visit to the Central Province, the High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka, H.E. Santosh Jha extended multi-sectoral assistance to members of the Indian Origin Tamil (IOT) community at two different events held on 15 May 2025.
At a special event organized at Peradeniya Hindu College, Kandy, the High Commissioner extended assistance to the students, based on the request of the institute. The assistance included computers, musical instruments, books for the library, and sports equipment.
Later in the day, the High Commissioner visited a site of the Indian Housing Project (IHP) Phase III at Elkaduwa Estate, Matale District. He interacted with the beneficiaries of the project and also distributed medical equipment and raincoats among families working at the estate. Out of the total 14,000 houses being constructed in the plantation regions of Sri Lanka under IHP Phases III and IV, 25 have been built at Elkaduwa Estate.
At both events, the High Commissioner reiterated the continued commitment of the Government of India to extend all possible support to the IOT community across sectors, based on their needs and the priorities of the Government of Sri Lanka. In this regard, besides the ongoing IHP, he highlighted the recently signed MoU on establishment of 60 smart classes in plantation schools; doubling of financial commitment by the Government of India to the project of upgrading of 9 plantation schools; and the announcement of Indian support to development of Seetha Eliya Temple, made by Prime Minister of India during his State Visit to Sri Lanka in April 2025.
He expressed hope that new projects could also be expeditiously undertaken with the support of the Government of Sri Lanka under the multi-sectoral grant assistance of INR 750 million announced in 2023 to mark 200 years of the arrival of the community in Sri Lanka. Projects already implemented under the package include distribution of solar lanterns, school bags, and books, as well as a special teacher-training program in STEM subjects that benefitted over 2000 Sri Lankan teachers in plantation schools.
