The India-funded Jaffna Cultural Centre in Sri Lanka’s Northern Province was inaugurated today.
Visiting Indian Foreign Minister Dr S. Jaishankar and Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa virtually declared open the Centre nearly two years after its construction.
The structure, with 11 floors and facilities, including an auditorium that can seat 600 persons, a conference hall, an amphitheatre and a digital library, was completed in early 2020.
Built with an Indian grant of US$11 million, the centre was envisaged as a public space to “promote, preserve and foster the cultural heritage of Jaffna”, and serve as “a hub of cultural activities” in Sri Lanka.
As per the agreement, the Government of India was to hand over the facility to the Government of Sri Lanka which would, in turn, hand it over to the Jaffna Municipal Council, which was given the responsibility of managing its recurring expenses and maintenance.
In effect, it was envisioned as a facility in Jaffna, that would be managed by the local municipal authority, and not the Central Government in Colombo.
Amid questions about the Municipal Council’s ability to spare funds to run the centre, the decision to inaugurate it was delayed for a period of 2 years.
The Jaffna Cultural Centre was finally inaugurated today, during Indian Foreign Minister Dr S. Jaishankar’s three-day visit to Sri Lanka.
Another example of India’s development assistance delivery. This time the Jaffna Cultural Centre. pic.twitter.com/XiI1QSFVok
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) March 28, 2022
Meanwhile, Indian Foreign Minister Dr Jaishankar also called on President Gotabaya Rajapaksa this morning (28).
According to the President’s Media Division (PMD), Dr Jaishankar is in Sri Lanka to attend the 5th BIMSTEC Summit which begins in Colombo today.
Expressing pleasure over the visit of Dr Jaishankar, the President thanked India for providing a Credit Line of USD 1 billion for the importation of essential commodities including food and medicine.
The PMD further said a number of commemorative events including the issuance of a commemorative coin and a stamp have been organised to mark the 75th Anniversary of diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and India this year. (NewsWire)
