1.   In a ceremony held at the Vivekanand College, Trincomalee on 24 September 2011, the High Commissioner of India H.E. Ashok K. Kantha handed over computers and printers to the principals of nine schools in the Eastern Province. The ceremony was attended by Hon. Rear Admiral Mohan Wijewickrama, Governor of the Eastern Province, Hon. Sivanesathurai Santhirakanthan, Chief Minister of Eastern Province, Hon. Wimalaweera Dissanayke, Provincial Minister of Education, Hon K.R.D.S. Gunawardena, Deputy Minister of Buddhasashana and Religious Affairs, Government of Sri Lanka, Hon. H. M. M. Faiz, Chairman of Eastern Provincial Council, Dr. Sunil J. Nawaratne, Secretary, Ministry of Higher Education, Government of Sri Lanka, Mr. N. A. A. Pushpakumara, Provincial Secretary of Education, principals of schools, officials from the Provincial Government and students.

2.   Under the grant assistance, Government of India has provided 1260 computers and 218 laser printers, along with their software and peripherals. These computers will be distributed among 261 schools in the Eastern Province. HCL, an Indian company, has supplied the computers. The total value of the project is SLR 160 million (approximately US$ 1.5 million).

3.   Speaking on the occasion, High Commissioner Kantha said that India was committed to an all round and comprehensive expansion of its relations with Sri Lanka while it hoped that the country would usher in a new era of peace, development and national reconciliation. He noted that there was a deep reservoir of goodwill and friendship in the two countries for each other and their time-tested relationship was based on a shared heritage, mutuality of interests and the conviction that their destinies were inter-linked. High Commissioner noted that a strong, united and prosperous Sri Lanka was in India’s interest, and vice versa. High Commissioner mentioned that the Eastern Province had a special place in the relationship between the two countries. The Province had suffered a lot during the period of armed conflict and it was receiving priority in the fast-growing development partnership between the two countries.

4.   High Commissioner remarked that the provision of computers for 261 schools was a gesture of friendship made with the hope that it would help address the issue of digital divide and improve the quality of education in the Eastern Province. He suggested that the Provincial Council consider providing internet connectivity to as many of those 261 schools as feasible, since that would make it possible for their students to access new avenues of knowledge in the outside world. He noted that the main focus of India’s development cooperation in the Eastern Province in recent years has been on the rehabilitation of war affected families, improving connectivity, education, capacity building, and infrastructure development. He outlined main projects undertaken by India in the Eastern Province in the recent past under its developmental partnership with Sri Lanka. He also expressed the hope that an early execution of the 500 MW coal power plant project at Sampur (Trincomalee), for which a Joint Venture Agreement was concluded between Ceylon Electricity Board and NTPC of India on 6 September, would give a major boost to the economic development of the Eastern Province. The Government of India would provide a concessional line of credit of US $ 200 million to the Government of Sri Lanka for this project.

5.   Hon. Rear Admiral Mohan Wijewickrama, Governor of the Eastern Province, remarked that the relationship between the two countries was at an all-time high. He highlighted various development assistance projects being implemented under Indian assistance and thanked India for the continued support. He noted that education is an important area of development cooperation between the two countries. He responded positively to the High Commissioner’s suggestion regarding the Provincial Council providing internet connectivity to schools which were receiving computers. He noted the importance of the Government of India funding construction of 50,000 houses in Sri Lanka, including in the Eastern Province, and of Sampur coal power project. He also referred to the Joint Exercises conducted by the Navies of India and Sri Lanka off the coast of Trincomalee and expressed his appreciation for training received by the personnel of the Sri Lankan armed forces at various Indian institutions.

6.   Hon. Sivanesathurai Santhirakanthan, Chief Minister of Eastern Province expressed his gratitude for generous assistance provided by Government of India for the Eastern Province. He was appreciative that the Government of India had responded positively to the request made by the Provincial Council for the provision of computers for its schools. Other distinguished speakers also echoed similar sentiments.