High Commission of India
Colombo
PRESS RELEASE

High Commissioner of India Extends Humanitarian Assistance to Fishing Community Members in Mullaithivu, Northern Province

At an event held at the Mullaithivu District Secretariat on 28 May 2025, High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka H.E Santosh Jha distributed humanitarian assistance in the form of deep freezers and high-quality fishing nets among fishing community members of Mullaithivu district. 

2. Governor of Northern Province Hon. Nagalingam Vethanayagan, Member of Parliament Hon. (Dr.) Sellaththamby Thilaganathan, Mullaitivu District Secretary Mr. A Umamaheswaran and representatives of fishermen societies from Mullaithivu attended the event.

3. In his remarks at the event, High Commissioner H.E. Santosh Jha highlighted the deep-rooted historical and cultural ties between India and Sri Lanka, united by the Indian Ocean, and commended the fishermen for their resilience, dedication and enduring contributions to their communities. He underscored that the numerous development assistance initiatives undertaken by India for the benefit of the fishing communities of Sri Lanka aim at empowering communities, generating economic opportunities and promoting sustainable development. 

4. The high-quality fishing distributed during the event were procured from the Gurunagar Fishing Net Factory in Jaffna. The factory was upgraded with supply of machinery and equipment through grant assistance of LKR 166 million from India in 2013, which enabled it to increase its annual production capacity from 60 metric tonnes to 300 metric tonnes. The procurement, thus, beyond supporting the fishermen directly, also contributed to the economy of the region, fostering local enterprise.

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Colombo
30 May 2025