1. The High Commissioner of India H.E. Ashok K. Kantha visited Helboda, Nuwara Eliya district, Central Province on 2 April 2013. During the visit, the High Commissioner, along with Hon. Dullas Alahapperuma, the Minister for Youth Affairs and Skills Development, inaugurated the Vocational Training Centre (VTC) at Helboda. At the event, the High Commissioner handed over advanced technology equipment, vehicles and books worth SLR 65 million, in the presence of Hon. Navin Dissanayake, Minister for Public Administration and Reforms, Members of Parliament Mr. V. Radhakrishnan and Mr. P. Rajadurai, Central Provincial Council Members and Mr. A. Natarajan, Assistant High Commissioner of India, Kandy. Mr. Thilakarathne, Secretary, Ministry of Skills Development; Col. Darshana Ratnayake, the Chairman of VTA; Mr. W.D. Fernando, Director (Training), VTA; and Mr. Niroshana Perera, Regional Director, VTC, Nuwara Eliya, were also present during the ceremony.

2. In his remarks, the High Commissioner noted that India had undertaken to implement projects to set up Vocational Training Centres in various parts of Sri Lanka under Indian grant assistance, to help students gain professional knowledge leading to gainful employment and self-entrepreneurship. He highlighted that VTC Helboda was the sixth Vocational Training Centre set up with the support of the Government of India and would help students from the Central Province and adjoining areas to pursue training and build a career in vocational trade. India had earlier supported setting up of VTCs at Nuwara Eliya, Hatton, Puttalam, Vantharamullai and Onthachimadam. The High Commissioner appreciated the valuable support extended by Hon. Dullas Alahapperuma.

3. While addressing the gathering, Hon. Dullas Alahapperuma, Minister for Youth Affairs and Skills Development, expressed the gratitude of the Government of Sri Lanka to India for providing valuable assistance in the of vocational training sector. He added that the government looked forward to receiving more such assistance and support in the future.

4. In his remarks, Hon. Navin Dissanayake, Minister for Public Administration and Reforms, said that India had undertaken great interest in economic assistance to Sri Lanka and that this helped further strengthen the bilateral ties between the two countries.

5. The VTC at Helboda has been set up under the Memorandum of Understanding for setting up the VTC in Nuwara Eliya with an Indian grant assistance of SLR 215 million, signed with the Government of Sri Lanka in July 2011. The Implementing Agency for the Project is Hindustan Machine Tools HMT(I).

6. The High Commissioner's visit to the Central Province helped review the progress of Indian-assisted projects in the Province and in exploring opportunities to further develop economic, cultural and people-to-people links between India and Central Province of Sri Lanka. The Government of India has been implementing a variety of multi-sectoral projects in Sri Lanka based on the needs and priorities identified by the people of Sri Lanka.