The Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, during his visit to India between February 15 and 18, will be seeking an Indian grant for constructing 20,000 houses for estate workers who are mostly Tamils of Indian Origin.

Cabinet spokesman Lakshman Kiriella told media on Thursday, that these houses will be built in plantation areas such as Hatton, Badulla, Ratnapura, Kegalle, Kandy, Matale and Galle. The money will also be used to re-roof 30,000 “line rooms” in the estates.

The Sri Lankan President will also discuss the possibility of signing agreements for cooperation in highways development, higher education and investment promotion with India. Sri Lanka is looking for Foreign Direct Investments instead of taking loans. Meanwhile, Minister of Resettlement, D M Swaminathan added that Sri Lanka is aiming to attract big time investors like the Tatas and Birlas.

On the controversial Chinese funded and built Colombo Port City Project, Kiriella said that it has been “stopped” and work will resume only when issues relating to environmental impact and cost are settled to the satisfaction of the SL government. On addressing India’s security concerns arising from China’s inroads into Lanka, Kiriella said: “Our relations with China will not be detrimental to India.”
(with inputs from The New Indian Express)