The new Consul General for India Sai Murali called on the Governor of the Northern Province P.S.M Charles upon assuming duties at the Consulate in Jaffna this week. During the initial meeting, they held a wide-ranging discussion on Indian assistance as well as connectivity between Eelam and India. 

The governor briefed the new consul on the development projects that are taking place in the North-East and the urgent needs of the communities. The consul while offering the support of the Indian government said they will continue to support the many projects that are ongoing in the homeland. 

Specifically, he mentioned that steps would be taken to provide technical training for young women to enhance their livelihoods and economic recovery. He also said that the ferry service would be swiftly expedited to ensure greater connectivity between the homeland and India. He had also promised to assist in coastal clean-up projects and secure funding from the Indian consulate for the same. 

The sentiments echoed by the new consul resonate with that of the new High Commissioner to India Santhosh Jha who in his first visit to Tamil Eelam, pursued India’s business interests in the region, specifically focusing on increasing connectivity between the two regions. 

The High Commissioner who engaged in diverse engagements during this three-day official visit, according to the official statement “paid special emphasis to further connectivity initiatives, central to the theme of bilateral economic partnership vision.”

Reaffirming India’s endeavour to contribute towards addressing the energy needs of islands off Jaffna, he assessed the readiness for early rollout of the Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems Project in Nainativu Island. The project is being implemented in Delft, Nainativu and Analaitivu Islands through grant assistance from India.

Jha also met with a wide cross-section of stakeholders in the region including elected representatives, academics, and businessmen, among several others on avenues for further collaboration and development. 

“With grant assistance of more than LKR 70 billion, Northern Province has been a region of focus in India’s multi-dimensional development cooperation partnership with Sri Lanka and the visit was an opportunity to reiterate India's unwavering commitment to the people of the region,” an official press release noted.

His visit comes after India’s Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman travelled to both Jaffna and Trincomalee in November, as part of New Delhi’s efforts to grow closer ties to the Tamil homeland.