On 12 July 2025, Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Hon. Dr. Harini Amarasuriya and High Commissioner of India, H.E Santosh Jha jointly inaugurated and handed over to the beneficiaries houses constructed with Indian assistance under the Sri Shobhita Nahimigama Project in Anuradhapura District.
Minister of Urban Development, Construction and Housing, Hon. Dr. Anura Karunathilaka; Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development, Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe; Deputy Minister of Urban Development, Construction and Housing, Hon. T.B. Sarath; Former Speaker of Parliament, Mr. Karu Jayasuriya; Member of Parliament Prof. Sena Nanayakkara; District Secretary, Anuradhapura; President of the Sobitha Thero Foundation, Mr. Ravi Jayawardana; among other dignitaries, also attended the event.
In his remarks, High Commissioner of India H.E Santosh Jha underscored the shared commitment of the Governments of India and Sri Lanka to the welfare of the people of the two countries, and the synergy in approaches in this regard — with India marching towards ‘Viksit Bharat’ with the motto of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’, and Sri Lanka having embarked on a path towards ‘A Thriving Nation and a Beautiful Life’. Recalling the numerous development cooperation initiatives of India in Anuradhapura such as the recently launched India-assisted signalling system for Maho-Anuradhapura railway line and the upgraded Maho-Omanthai railway track, as well as committed ones such as development of the Sacred City Complex, the High Commissioner reiterated India’s commitment to continue working with Sri Lanka across all dimensions of the bilateral relationship for mutual benefit.
In her address, Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Hon. Dr. Harini Amarasuriya recalled the teachings of the Late Ven. Maduluwawe Sobhitha Thero, who was a strong advocate of social justice, and thanked the Government and people of India for the Sri Shobhita Nahimigama Project, which would immensely benefit the historically disadvantaged people of the village. In their remarks, Minister of Urban Development, Construction and Housing, Hon. Dr. Karunathilaka, and Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development, Hon. Samarasinghe expressed gratitude to the Government of India for the financial assistance to the project.
The project envisaged construction of 115 houses and other infrastructure facilities for residents of Elapathgama Village in Anuradhapura. It was undertaken based on a request from Ven. Maduluwawe Sobhitha Thero Commemoration Foundation, in line with the vision of the Late Venerable Thero for development of the poverty-stricken village located in the dry zone of the North Central Province. The village with the new facilities would be renamed Sri Shobhita Nahimigama.
A Memorandum of Understanding was accordingly signed between the Government of India and the Ministry of Urban Development and Housing of Sri Lankain July 2017. Under revised contours of the project, Government of India increased its financial assistance commitment to over SLR 450 million for 90 houses, while Government of Sri Lanka built 25 houses and other facilities such as a residence for monks and library. The latter were inaugurated and handed over at a ceremony held earlierin April 2024. With the handing over of the 90 houses on 12 July, the project now stands fully completed.
