H.E. Mr. Ashok K Kantha, the High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka, during his visit to the Central Province on 22nd and 23rd April 2013, paid farewell calls on Hon. Tikiri Kobbekaduwa, Governor of Central Province, and Hon. Sarath Ekanayake, Chief Minister of Central Province.

During the meetings, High Commissioner Kantha  noted the strong and close bilateral relationship between India and Sri Lanka and highlighted various developmental projects being implemented in Sri Lanka, with particular reference to the Central Province, with Indian grant assistance, supplementing the various initiatives of the Government of Sri Lanka, to uplift the standard of living of the estate workers. He underlined that construction work at the 150-bed base hospital at Dickoya, Hatton, was progressing smoothly and that the fully-equipped hospital would be handed over by August/September 2013.  Hon. Governor and Hon. Chief Minister appreciated the Government of India’s sustained efforts towards the upliftment of plantation workers in the Upcountry areas and thanked the Government of India for constructing the 150-bed hospital at Dickoya, setting up three Vocational Training Centres, providing CEWET and Mahatma Gandhi scholarships for higher education and also making available buses for improved access and connectivity in the estate areas. They also commended the installation of the 16-foot high statue of Lord Buddha in Sarnath style, from the Gupta period, at the entrance of the International Buddhist Museum and the efforts underway to set up the Indian Gallery at the International Buddhist Museum at Sri Dalada Maligawa. The High Commissioner offered to gift books to the public library at Getambe in Peradeniya, set up by the Central Provincial Council and to have further discussions on collaborating with respect to setting up an Institute of Higher Studies in the Central Province.   

Responding to concerns expressed by the two dignitaries regarding the two unfortunate incidents involving assaults on Sri Lankan Buddhist monks in Tamil Nadu state of India, High Commissioner Kantha underlined that these were isolated incidents and did not reflect the strong people-to-people bonds that have been an integral part of the close historical, cultural and civilizational ties between the two countries. He also conveyed that the state government of Tamil Nadu had taken immediate action to identify and prosecute the miscreants responsible for these incidents and that the Government of India, in consultation with the concerned state governments, has taken and will continue to take all possible measures to ensure the safety, security and well-being of Sri Lankan visitors to India, including to Tamil Nadu.

The meetings were held in a cordial and friendly atmosphere and the High Commissioner extended an invitation to the Hon. Governor and the Hon. Chief Minister to visit India.;