Progress of Indian government-funded projects in Sri Lanka monitored

A high-level Monitoring Committee from Indian Ministry of External Affairs recently visited Sri Lanka to monitor and evaluate the progress of ongoing development projects implemented in Sri Lanka by the Indian government.The delegation led by P.S. Raghavan, Special Secretary (Development Partnership Administration) and Bimal Julka, Special Secretary and Financial Adviser, visited Sri Lanka from 9-12 April 2013.
They visited the North Sea Fishnet factory at Gurunagar, Jaffna, which is being upgraded with latest equipment under a project funded by Indian government at a cost of Rs.166 million.The factory, which is expected to be fully operational with the latest equipment by May 2013, has been provided with four fishnet making machines and two fishnet stretching machines for manufacturing different types of fishnets. In addition, a water purification system, and a dye plant has been set up and 24,000 kg of fishnet making twines has been supplied under the Project. It is expected that this equipment will help increase the fishnet production at the factory from the present level of 60 MT per year to 300 MT per year. During the visit, the delegation, accompanied by the Consul General of India, Jaffna, V. Mahalingam, also launched a Government of India funded Project to assist in the repair/renovation of 1,230 small business premises at Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu, which were damaged during the last phase of the armed conflict. The project, being implemented at a cost of Rs. 65.35 million, assists 1,230 beneficiaries to help rebuild their damaged business premises. Certificates were distributed at the event to 174 beneficiaries. Depending on the scale of their business, beneficiaries are being provided an amount ranging from Rs. 25,000 - 200,000. The funds for each beneficiary are transferred electronically directly into their bank accounts by the High Commission of India. The Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka is facilitating the implementation of the Project, by helping identify deserving beneficiaries and undertaking the necessary paperwork.