The Indian High Commission distributed solar lanterns to the Indian-origin estate workers in the Central Province. The distribution will now continue to cover all the 4,000 beneficiary households under Phase III of the IHP.
As part of his official visit to the Central Province from August 19 to August 21, the High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka, Santhosh Jha visited Pitakanda, Ratotta Estate, Matale District on August 20.
The houses constructed at Pitakanda, Ratotta Estate are among 4,000 houses being constructed for estate workers from the Indian Origin Tamil Community in Sri Lanka under Phase III of the Indian Housing Project (IHP). The phase is near completion.
The distribution of solar lanterns is an initiative under the special multi-sectoral grant assistance package of INR 750 million to mark 200 years of arrival of Indian-origin Tamil community to Sri Lanka, was announced last year during the visit of President of Sri Lanka, President Ranil Wickremesinghe to India.
Work has already commenced on Phase IV of the IHP, under which houses will be constructed for another 10,000 estate-worker families in the plantation regions.