India Remains a Steadfast Partner in Sri Lanka's Overall Development, Says High Commissioner

06-Jun-2026

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India will continue to be a steadfast and genuine partner in improving local livelihoods and supporting the overall development of communities across Sri Lanka, Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha has said.

He made these remarks while officially inaugurating the Pattini Village Model Village project in Kurunegala District, which was constructed with grant assistance from the Government of India.

Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha and Minister of Housing, Construction and Water Supply Dr. Susil Ranasinghe jointly handed over houses in the village to 24 beneficiary families. Addressing the gathering, the High Commissioner said the project reaffirmed India's long-standing commitment to Sri Lanka's national development.

The event was attended by North Western Province Governor Tissa Kumarasiri Warnasuriya, Deputy Minister of Women and Child Affairs Dr. Namal Sudarshana, Kurunegala District MP Sujeewa Indika Dissanayake, senior officials from the Ministry of Housing, and representatives of the National Housing Development Authority.

The Model Village Housing Programme is being implemented in all 25 districts of Sri Lanka with financial assistance from India. A Memorandum of Understanding for the project was signed between the two countries in October 2017.

The initiative aims to provide housing for 600 low-income families selected by district housing committees, with each district receiving a model village comprising 24 housing units.

To date, model villages have been handed over in 17 districts, including Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mannar, Vavuniya, Mullaitivu, Batticaloa, Trincomalee, Ampara, Kandy, Matale, Gampaha, Colombo, Anuradhapura, Badulla, Puttalam, Monaragala, and Ratnapura.

Authorities stated that 98.5 per cent of the project has now been completed and that the remaining model villages will be handed over to beneficiaries in the near future.