The High Commissioner of India, H.E. Mr. Ashok K. Kantha, visited Central and Uva Provinces on 7-8 November 2010. During the visit, he attended public functions at Talawakalle, Nuwara Eliya, Badulla and Passara. where he handed over a number of buses donated by the Government of India as part of a project of supplying 55 buses to assist social, cultural and educational institutions in Sri Lanka at a total cost of SLR 92.95 million. Twenty of these buses were donated to M/s Annai Kothai Entrepreneur Co. Ltd to develop transport infrastructure for estate workers living in remote areas in the Plantation sector. A similar number of buses had also been provided last year to this company for this purpose.

Speaking on these occasions and in his separate interaction with prominent members of the local community, High Commissioner announced the stepping up of Indian assistance for people in the Upcountry areas. He outlined four specific thrust areas of this assistance. These include, firstly, the area of housing, where 5000 new housing units are to be constructed by Government of India for estate workers as part of the larger commitment for construction of 50,000 houses; secondly, improvement of medical infrastructure through the commencement within the next few weeks of the construction of a 150-bed hospital in Dickoya; thirdly, a substantial enhancement in the number of scholarships for children of estate workers as also revamping of the Vocational Training Centre in Nuwara Eliya; and, finally, improving connectivity in the region by providing buses for better transportation. 

The High Commissioner also called on the Governor of Uva Province, Hon’ble C. Nanda Mathew. During the meeting, various proposals to channelize Indian assistance towards development of tourism, education and agriculture sectors in the Province were discussed.