The High Commissioner of India – Mr. Santosh Jha visited Kandy today (Jan. 18).

The High Commissioner sought blessings of the Mahanayaka Theros of Asgiriya and Malwatte chapters, Most Ven. Warakagoda Sri Gnanarathana Mahanayake Thero and Most Ven. Thibbatuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Mahanayake Thero respectively. 

High Commissioner Jha underlined that Buddhism was central to the age-old connection between the people of India and Sri Lanka and briefed the Mahanayaka Theros on various initiatives undertaken by the Government of India (GoI) to strengthen bilateral Buddhist ties. 

He specifically mentioned that measures are being carried out expeditiously to roll out solar electrification of Temples across the country through GoI assistance.

He offered prayers at the sacred Dalada Maligawa for prosperity and well being of the people of the two countries as also stronger and deeper connection between them.

He also prayed for closer bilateral relations through further diversification in both scale and scope at Kataragama Devalaya.  

He visited Hanthana Estate and took stock of the Indian Housing Project. While GoI has already built 50 houses in the Estate under the third phase, more housing units are being constructed in the next phase of the Project. Overall, GoI has committed to 14000 new houses for plantation workers in the two phases of the project.

The High Commissioner inaugurated an Ayurveda camp, aimed at the physical well being of the plantation workers. He also distributed study materials and umbrellas to school going children in the Estate. He remarked that these are keeping in line with GoI’s firm commitment to the overall upliftment of the plantation workers and the Indian origin Tamil community in particular.

It may be recalled that a multi-sectoral grant package to the tune of SLR 3 billion was announced by GoI during the visit of Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe to India in July 2023.