Inauguration of Model Village built with Indian Grant Support

High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka, Santosh Jha, and Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation Service,s Anura Karunathilaka, jointly inaugurated and handed over Ven. Dhammavansa Nahimigama Model Village in Rathnapura to the 24 beneficiary families.

Anura Karunathilaka held charge as the Minister of Urban Development, Construction, and Housing during the implementation of the project in Rathnapura. Deputy Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure, Sundaralingam Pradeep, and Member of Parliament, Sunil Rajapaksha, also participated in the ceremony.

The event was also attended by senior officials from the Ministry of Housing, Construction, and Water Supply of Sri Lanka; the Chairman and senior officials from the National Housing Development Authority; and officials from the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council and the Rathnapura District Administration.

Speaking at the event, High Commissioner Santosh Jha emphasized India’s unwavering commitment to supporting Sri Lanka’s development, particularly by improving livelihoods and strengthening communities.

Minister Anura Karunathilaka conveyed gratitude on behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka for India’s people-centric development cooperation initiatives in the country, particularly in the housing sector.

A Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of India and the Government of Sri Lanka was signed in October 2017 for the Model Village project.

The project encompasses housing facilities for 600 low-income families in Sri Lanka, with each district consisting of a model village with 24 houses.

The Ministry of Housing, Construction, and Water Supply of Sri Lanka is implementing the project with grant support from the Government of India.

Model Villages in 15 other districts have already been handed over.

The overall project progress is over 97% and the remaining model villages are expected to be inaugurated and handed over to the beneficiaries soon.