Sri Lanka: India increases financial allocation for the implementation of grant projects

India has announced a significant boost in financial support for ongoing grant projects in Sri Lanka. Under the India-Sri Lanka High Impact Community Development Project (HICDP) framework, the allocation for nine ongoing projects has been raised by up to 50%, reaching a total commitment of nearly 300 crore lankan rupees. These projects encompass diverse sectors like education, health, and agriculture.
The Indian government has already completed over 60 grant projects successfully under the HICDP framework, which extends across the entire island. Additionally 20 more projects are in various stages of implementation. Notably, India recently doubled project ceilings and overall financial investments under the framework in January 2023 during the visit of External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar.
Indian Government’s comprehensive development cooperation partnership with Sri Lanka, valued at approximately 5 billion dollars, includes 600 million USD in grants. These demand-driven, people-centric projects encompass infrastructure development, housing, livelihood assistance, and more, with noteworthy achievements including the 1990 Emergency Ambulance Service, Railway Track rehabilitation, Integrated Water Plants, Indian Housing Project, and Jaffna Cultural Center.