India and Sri Lanka signed two Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) today for construction of 1200 houses through 50 model villages, using Indian grant assistance of SLR 600 million.

The MoUs were signed by High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka Mr. Taranjit Singh Sandhu, and Secretary to the Ministry of Housing and Construction Mr. Bernard Vasantha, in the presence of Minister of Housing and Construction Sajith Premadasa.

The signing took place during a special ceremony held in Hambantota for vesting to the beneficiaries the Sathsurugama model village completed under the Grama Shakti Model Village Housing Project at which High Commissioner participated as a Special Guest.
 
The 1200 houses under 50 Model Villages are in addition to the 1200 houses (50 Model villages) under construction in collaboration with the Ministry of Housing and Construction.

With this, India’s collaboration with Ministry of Housing and Construction under Model Villages Housing Program stands at 2400 houses in 100 model villages, the Indian High Commission said.

The houses will be constructed using the successful owner driven model with Indian grant assistance. As per the new MoUs, 600 houses each will be constructed in the Southern and Northern Provinces.  

The project will target low income landless and homeless beneficiaries. A cash grant of SLR 5 lakh will be provided to each beneficiary in installments, linked to the stages of construction of the house.

India’s overall commitment for building houses in Sri Lanka stands at nearly 63000. Indian financial commitment, under grant, for housing in Sri Lanka currently stands at around US$ 350 million.