On 3 June 2026, High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka H.E. Santosh Jha distributed humanitarian assistance in the form of high-quality fishing nets among fishing community members of Kayts, Nainativu and Analaitivu in Jaffna District.
In his remarks at the event, High Commissioner H.E. Santosh Jha noted the deep historical and cultural linkages between India and Sri Lanka, particularly among coastal communities, and emphasized India’s commitment to people-centric development cooperation under its Neighbourhood First policy. He commended the fishermen for their resilience, dedication and enduring contributions to their communities. He enumerated the various development assistance initiatives undertaken by Government of India for the benefit of fishing communities, including the development of Point Pedro harbour, Karainagar boatyard, Center of Excellence for Fisheries in the Northern province, training opportunities for fishermen, and the supply of motorbikes to Fisheries Department officials.
The high-quality fishing nets distributed during the event were procured from the Gurunagar Fishing Net Factory in Jaffna. The factory was upgraded with supply of machinery and equipment through a Government of India grant assistance of LKR 166 million in 2013, which enabled it to increase its annual production capacity from 60 metric tonnes to 300 metric tonnes. The procurement, thus, beyond supporting the fishermen directly, also contributed to the economy of the region, fostering local enterprise.
