1. The High Commissioner of India H.E. Ashok K. Kantha in a ceremony held on 24 September, 2011 at the Trincomalee Campus of Eastern University handed over the Indian grant assistance to the Siddha Faculty. The ceremony was attended by Hon. Rear Admiral Mohan Wijewickrama, Governor of the Eastern Province, Hon. Sivanesathurai Santhirakanthan, Chief Minister of Eastern Province, Hon M.K.A.D.S. Gunawardena,Deputy Minister of Buddhasashana and Religious Affairs, Dr. Sunil J. Nawaratne, Secretary, Ministry of Higher Education, Prof N. R. Arthenayake, Competent Authority of Eastern University, Dr. K. Premakumar, Acting Vice Chancellor of Eastern University, officials from the University and Provincial Government and students.

2. Under the grant assistance, the Government of India has supplied laboratory equipment, computers, reference books, anatomical models and charts, a bus and a jeep for the use in the Siddha Faculty. The faculty has been equipped to carry out research and study in the field of Siddha. The total assistance for the project is SLR 105 million (approximately USD 1 million).

3. Speaking on the occasion High Commissioner Kantha noted that the successful completion of the project has a deep symbolic value as the traditional knowledge of Auyurveda and Siddha is an important part of the common civilizational heritage of both countries. He said that India and Sri Lanka should work closely and share their experience and expertise in these areas, which were receiving increasing attention in both countries. He suggested that the faculty and students of Eastern University could benefit from training under Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) and Colombo Plan. He indicated the Government of India’s readiness to assist in further development of the Trincomalee Campus.

4. As the High Commissioner noted, the main focus of India’s development partnership in the Eastern Province in recent years has been on rehabilitation of war affected families, improving connectivity, education, capacity building, and infrastructure development. He recalled that five units of rail bus were recently gifted to improve connectivity between Batticaloa and Trincomalee; twenty buses were provided to Eastern Provincial Council and educational institutions; 20 Nenasalas (e-learning Centers) were set up in 2009-10 in Eastern Province under Indian assistance; 1260 computers, 218 laser printers and their peripherals (with a cost of SLR 160 million) were being gifted to 261 schools in the Eastern Province later in the day. The Government of India is also providing assistance of approximately SLR 330 million to set up facilities at Vocational Training Centers in Batticaloa; a project aimed at empowerment of widows of the Eastern Province through training in identified vocations is being implemented by a leading NGO of India, Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA), under grant assistance of SLR 205 million by the Government of India; the project of construction of 50,000 houses in Sri Lanka under an Indian grant will also cover the Eastern Province. The Government of India has also agreed to provide a concessional credit line of US$ 200 million to the Government of Sri Lanka in connection with the 500 MW power plant which is proposed to be set up as a joint venture between NTPC of India and CEB at Sampur (Trincomalee).

5. Hon. Rear Admiral Mohan Wijewickrama, Governor of the Eastern Province in his remarks said that the relationship between the two countries is at all time high. He highlighted various development assistance projects being implemented under Indian assistance and thanked India for its continued support. He noted that education is an important area of development cooperation between the two countries. He highlighted the assistance provided by India in English language training.

6. Hon. Sivanesathurai Santhirakanthan, Chief Minister of Eastern Province expressed his gratitude for generous assistance provided by Government of India for the Eastern Province. Other distinguished speakers also echoed similar sentiments.

High Commissioner Ashok K. Kantha with Hon'ble Governor, Eastern Province at handing over ceremony of assistance provided under Government of India grant to the Siddha Faculty, Trincomalee Campus of Eastern University	High Commissioner Ashok K. Kantha handing over lab equipment to Secretary, Ministry of Higher Education under assistance provided by Government of India to the Siddha Faculty, Trincomalee Campus of Eastern University
High Commissioner Ashok K. Kantha gifting books to Secretary, Ministry of Higher Education under assistance provided by Government of India to the Siddha Faculty, Trincomalee Campus of Eastern University