Indian High Commission signs agreements for phase IV of 10,000 housing project

The High Commission of India recently signed two significant agreements for the construction of 10,000 houses in plantation areas of Sri Lanka under phase IV of the Indian housing project. 

Separate agreements with the two implementing agencies the National Housing Development Authority (NHDA) and the State Engineering Corporation (SEC) are aimed at early roll out of construction of the 10,000 houses. 

Indian High Commission Counsellor and Head of Development Cooperation Wing Eldos Mathew Punnoose, SEC Chairman Rathnasiri Kalupahana, and NHDA General Manager Kankana-malage Ajantha Janaka were the signatories to the two agreements.

Phase IV of the Indian housing project is spread across 11 districts and 6 provinces in Sri Lanka. The overall commitment of the Government of India under the Indian housing project currently stands at 60,000 houses.  While 46,000 houses were completed in Northern and Eastern Provinces in the first two phases, the third phase for the construction of 4,000 houses in plantation areas is nearing completion. Housing receives focused attention in India’s people-centric development cooperation partnership with Sri Lanka. 

Beyond the Indian housing project, 2,400 houses are being built across the 25 districts of Sri Lanka under different housing projects. India’s development cooperation portfolio stands at around $ 5 billion, with close to $ 600 million being in grants.