17 hours ago
Last Updated:April 05, 2025, 18:33 IST
PM Modi said India will support the construction of 10,000 houses, healthcare facilities, a temple and other projects for Indian-Origin Tamils In Sri Lanka.
PM Modi with Indian-Origin Tamil leaders in Sri Lanka. (Narendra Modi/X)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday held a “fruitful" meeting with leaders of the Indian-Origin Tamil (IOT) community during his two-day trip to Sri Lanka. He offered support for construction of 10,000 houses for Indian-origin Tamils along with healthcare facilities and other projects.
In a post on X, PM Modi described the Indian Origin Tamils as a “living bridge" between the two countries for more than two centuries. “India will support construction of 10,000 houses, healthcare facilities, the sacred site Seetha Eliya temple and other community development projects for IOTs in cooperation with the Government of Sri Lanka," he added.
The meeting with leaders of Indian Origin Tamil (IOT) was fruitful. The community constitutes a living bridge between the two countries for over 200 years. India will support construction of 10,000 houses, healthcare facilities, the sacred site Seetha Eliya temple and other… pic.twitter.com/5A2VDDjnM1— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 5, 2025
Earlier, Sri Lanka’s Indian-origin Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Arun Hemachandra, hailed PM Modi’s visit and said the two countries share a fruitful relationship. “The support that we are getting from India is really enormous. We are confident that this relationship will become stronger in the days to come," he was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
India and Sri Lanka signed a landmark defense cooperation agreement on Saturday for the first time, following talks between PM Modi and Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. In addition to the defense pact, the two countries also agreed to develop Trincomalee into an energy hub and signed another agreement to facilitate India’s multi-sectoral grant assistance to Sri Lanka’s eastern region.
During his remarks to the press, PM Modi said Sri Lanka has a special place in India’s Neighbourhood First policy, and the debt restructuring agreement between the two countries will provide immediate help and relief to the people of Sri Lanka. He also thanked Dissanayake, the Sri Lankan government and the people of Sri Lanka for honouring him with the ‘Mithra Vibhushana Medal’ and stressed that this showcases the historical ties and deep friendship between the two nations.
PM Modi also conveyed to Dissanayake India’s expectation from Colombo to fulfill the aspirations of the Tamil community in the island nation and conduct provincial council elections. The Tamil community in Sri Lanka has been demanding the implementation of the 13th Amendment of the Sri Lankan Constitution that provides for devolution of power to it.
The two countries signed seven agreements and MoUs during PM Modi’s visit to Sri Lanka. The leaders also inaugurated the recently completed temperature-controlled warehousing facility at Dambulla, which is possibly the first facility of its kind on the island, and a project for the supply of solar rooftop systems to nearly 5,000 religious institutions across Sri Lanka.
(with inputs from agencies)
Location :Colombo, Sri Lanka
First Published:April 05, 2025, 18:18 IST
News india PM Modi Meets Tamil Community In Sri Lanka, Offers Support For Construction Of 10,000 Houses
