During the two-day visit of Indian Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan to Sri Lanka, special attention was focused on expediting several large-scale projects scheduled to be implemented in Sri Lanka under Indian assistance.South Asians & Diaspora
Vice President Radhakrishnan departed for New Delhi with the Indian delegation after concluding a successful two-day official visit to Sri Lanka yesterday (20).
In his official ‘X’ account, the Indian Vice President stated that he had a productive visit to Sri Lanka and outlined the key productive outcomes of the visit.
The OCI eligibility criteria for Indian-origin Tamils (IOTs) has been eased where extension of OCI card eligibility to sixth generation of IOTs has taken place with simplification of procedures and evidentiary requirements that makes the process of acquiring OCI cards easier and easy travelling to India made possible, contributing to stronger people-to-people ties.
A cluster of houses constructed under the Indian Housing Project Phase III were virtually handed over benefitting the plantation workers, particularly IOTs, with proper and quality housing promoting dignity and social inclusion while encouraging goodwill between India and Sri Lanka.
As a part of post-Ditwah rehabilitation package, announcement was made of resumption of train services on the restored Northern Railway Line to restore critical connectivity infrastructure and to improve passenger movement, essential services and logistics.
Installation of three more Bailey bridges under the post-Ditwah rehabilitation package, one in the Central Province (Kandy) and two in the Uva Province, to restore critical infrastructure that was damaged in the cyclone, which would facilitate the movement of people and essential goods.
Announcement was made of the enhancement of Ceylon Estate Workers Education Trust Scholarship which provides increased opportunities and increased stipend to the children of estate workers to pursue GCE Advanced Level studies and further higher studies in vocational training institutions and in universities.
This underscores India’s Neighbourhood First Policy and its commitment to the Global South.
Agreement has been reached for cooperation on the first set of six priority projects under the Multi-Sectoral Grant Assistance for the Eastern Province to empower women through establishing of batik training centres; establish a premature baby unit at Base Hospital with focus on reducing neonatal mortality and related complications; construct eye, ENT and mental health units at base hospital; establish contract farmer clusters directly benefitting around 300 OFC seed-producing farmers and over 3,000 cultivators indirectly; establish a sustainable Ayurveda village benefitting local traditional business enterprises and practitioners; and also establish a ward complex at the Central Ayurvedic Dispensary in Gomarankadawala to facilitate inpatient Ayurvedic treatment services.
Agreement has also been made for cooperation for construction of a four-storey medical ward complex at the Mullaitivu District General Hospital to provide facilities for critical medical care without being transferred to distant hospitals.
The Indian Vice President further stated that Sri Lanka joins the International Big Cat Alliance facilitating international cooperation through knowledge sharing, capacity building, technical support and resource mobilisation for conservation of big cats and their habitats.