India’s total assistance to Sri Lanka exceeds USD 7.5 billion amid growing bilateral ties

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

Colombo, July 31 (IANS) India’s assistance for development projects in Sri Lanka has exceeded USD 7.5 billion with the projects covering all 25 districts, India’s High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Santosh Jha detailed while chaired a review meeting on India-assisted development projects in island nation along with Sri Lanka’s Minister of Labour and Foreign Employment Anil Jayantha Fernando.

“With over USD 7.5 billion in assistance, including more than USD 850 million in grants, India’s people-oriented projects span all 25 districts of Sri Lanka – transforming housing, healthcare, education, railways, energy, and livelihoods across Sri Lanka,” the Indian High Commission in Colombo posted on X.

On July 21, Jha met Chulamanee Chartsuwan, the new Secretary General of the Colombo Plan and assured her of India’s continued support to the Plan’s Capacity Building Programme.

“Pleased to meet the new Secretary General of the Colombo Plan H.E Ms. Chulamanee Chartsuwan. Assured her of India’s continued support to the Plan’s Capacity Building Programme, discussed initiatives proposed in the Plan’s 75th anniversary year, and exchanged views on the way ahead for the organisation,” Jha wrote on X.

The Colombo Plan is an inter-governmental organisation consisting of 26 member countries operating on the partnership concept of self-help and mutual help to enhance human capital development and south-south cooperation.

On July 14, Jha and Sri Lanka’s Minister of Health’s secretary, Anil Jasinghe, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for an Indian grant to supply medical equipment to Base Hospital in Deniyaya.

Under this MoU, the Indian government will provide a grant assistance of SLR 600 million to equip Deniyaya Hospital, which is being relocated by the Sri Lankan government as a comprehensive disaster preparedness measure due to its current location in a disaster-prone area.

The hospital’s relocation is projected for completion within three years, with delivery and installation of equipment aligned with the final phases of construction, according to the Indian High Commission in Colombo press release. The project is part of India’s assistance package worth USD 450 million announced for reconstruction and rehabilitation measures in Sri Lanka after Cyclone Ditwah.

India’s people-centric development partnership with Sri Lanka stands out as one of the most important pillars of the bilateral relationship. India’s developmental assistance projects are based on the priorities set by the government and the people of Sri Lanka, according to the Indian High Commission in Colombo statement.

The assistance projects have been widely appreciated for their transparent approach and implementation through the use of local materials and manpower, in a manner that supports the local economy. The assistance focuses on capacity-building, human resource development, uplifting of weaker sections as well as infrastructure development and various other aspects related to daily lives such as housing, education, health, industrial development, livelihood support, transport, etc.

–IANS

akl/as

Related Posts

Autopsy reveals struggle not suicide, but murder, say parents of OpenAI whistleblower

San Francisco, Jan 1 (IANS) The parents of Indian-American techie Suchir Balaji, who was found dead in his San Francisco apartment on December 14, 2024, have rejected the official suicide ruling, alleging that their son was murdered.

Suchir, a former OpenAI employee, had made headlines for his whistleblowing revelations about the ethical concerns surrounding generative AI.

In an interview with NDTV, his parents claim that the second autopsy report indicates “signs of struggle,” including a head injury and trauma, which contradict the suicide verdict by the medical examiner’s office.

Suchir’s mother, Poornima Ramarao, expressed disbelief at the suicide ruling, citing the absence of a suicide note and the findings of the second autopsy.

“We have facts with the second autopsy — head trauma and signs of struggle. This is not a suicide; it’s a murder,” she stated.

His father, Balaji Ramamurthi, recounted their last conversation on December 22, when Suchir returned from a trip to Los Angeles in good spirits.

“He seemed happy,” he said.

When asked if Suchir picked up another job, his mother said, “No, he didn’t. They (OpenAI) probably threatened him. They didn’t allow him to work somewhere else. He also consulted a copyright attorney and figured out that he was not doing anything wrong and they were just suppressing him. That made him give the New York Times interview and resulted in his death.”

“He was working in the core group of the ChatGPT; he was kind of an architect of the whole thing. He knows a lot of information about ChatGPT. There were some restrictions on him to not work in other AI companies,” the father added.

His mother mentioned that Suchir was working on personal research which he wanted to get published, in which he explains that “modulated answer is not exactly as the information pegged to ChatGPT, giving an example of a black and white cat coming out as a coloured cat.”

“Additionally, the work of artists and journalists were all stolen, which is unethical. This is what we talked about the last time I met him,” she mentioned.

The parents are demanding an FBI investigation to uncover the truth. “There was a struggle; he did not take his life. Now, who and why need to be explored,” Poornima said, urging the Indian government to support their cause.

They also welcomed Elon Musk’s support but said they had not reached out to him.

Describing Suchir as a caring and brilliant individual, his parents said his death is a “loss to humanity and the tech industry.”

Suchir had worked at OpenAI for nearly four years before resigning over ethical concerns.

In an October post on X, he criticised the misuse of copyrighted materials in generative AI, stating, “Fair use seems like a pretty implausible defence for a lot of generative AI products.”

An OpenAI spokesperson expressed condolences, “We are devastated to learn of this incredibly sad news today. Our hearts go out to Suchir’s loved ones during this difficult time.”

Suchir, a University of California, Berkeley graduate, was a prominent figure in the tech industry, with his whistleblowing revelations sparking global discussions on AI ethics.

–IANS

sd/

Waqf Bill will open new avenues for development of Muslim: Danish Ansari

Lucknow, April 3 (IANS) Uttar Pradesh Minority Affairs Minister Danish Ansari on Thursday claimed that the passage of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, will open new avenues for the development of Muslims.

Talking to IANS, he pointed out positive changes the Bill will usher in the lives of Muslims, who celebrated its passage in the Lok Sabha with the distribution of sweets.

He shared that if the said Bill becomes legislation, it will ensure proper auditing of the Waqf Board, remove encroachments and lead to representation of the Pasmanda Muslims in the board, benefiting the community.

“This bill was the need of the hour and will stop people who occupied properties of the Waqf, considered God’s property, as their personal and misused it,” the Minister further said.

Launching a scathing attack at the opposition leaders, including All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Akbaruddin Owaisi, who said the day of the Waqf Amendment Bill’s passage in the Lok Sabha will be remembered as a ‘Black Day’ and it is unconstitutional, Ansari said these people cannot see development of Pasmanda Muslims.

Claiming “mismanagement” of Waqf properties, he said: “All such properties in the country are valued at Rs 1.25 lakh crore, which should generate a revenue of over Rs 1,250 crore annually. But currently, it is generating only Rs 150 crore in revenue. Around Rs 1,100 crore is going into whose pockets.”

“The right amount of revenue could have led to the opening of more than 800 colleges every year for Muslim youths, 300 hospitals and hundreds of skill development centres,” he further said.

Sharing the data of Waqf properties in few districts of Uttar Pradesh, Ansari said: “In every district of Uttar Pradesh, there are thousands of Waqf properties, Bijnor (4697), Balrampur (4,248), Moradabad (3295) Lucknow (3072), Muzaffarnagar (3606), Aligarh (1400) and Kasganj (575).”

Ansari urged Muslims of the area to inspect how many such places have been transformed into charitable properties.

Hailing the amendment, he said: “It was needed for a Viksit Bharat. Prime Minister Narendra Modi understood this and dedicated it for the welfare of Muslims. Modi government is following Allah’s will, but a section of people are trying to manipulate Muslims.”

–IANS

svn/dpb

Tejashwi says caste census is Modi Govt’s compulsion, not choice; Cong credits LoP Gandhi

Patna, May 1 (IANS) The political war of words over the caste census continues to escalate in Bihar, with Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Assembly, Tejashwi Yadav calling it a decision made under “compulsion” by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi government.

Speaking to the media in Patna on Thursday, Tejashwi Yadav declared that the move was not a voluntary initiative by the BJP-led Central government, but the result of growing public pressure.

“This is not a decision, it is a compulsion. They had no choice left. We have been raising this issue for years,” Tejashwi said.

He further added, “Even though they have announced the census, there is still no clarity on when it will begin. And it must be completed before the delimitation process so that the allocation of Lok Sabha and Assembly seats can be based on updated data.”

Meanwhile, Bihar Congress leaders echoed Tejashwi Yadav’s sentiment and attributed the caste census decision to the efforts of Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi.

Bihar Congress President, Rajesh Kumar Ram performed a symbolic gesture by offering milk to Rahul Gandhi’s photograph and said, “The slogan ‘Jiski Jitni Sankhya, Uska Utna Share’ has ignited hopes of social equality in the country.”

On the other side, BJP leaders dismissed these assertions.

Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, a key BJP figure in the Bihar government, reiterated that PM Modi’s decision was driven by national interest, not political pressure.

“This is not a move forced by anyone. PM Modi has fulfilled the unkept promises of Sonia Gandhi, Lalu Yadav, and even Nitish Kumar, who sat on the caste census proposal for decades,” Choudhary said.

He also stated that BJP ministers would visit all districts in Bihar to communicate the significance of the decision and expose what he called the “double standards” of the Congress and RJD, who “failed to act when they had power.”

The battle for political ownership of the caste census reflects its increasing weight as a key electoral issue, with all parties trying to position themselves as champions of social justice ahead of future electoral contests.

–IANS

ajk/rad