Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met with political leaders and Members of Parliament representing the Malaiyaham community, Sri Lanka’s Indian-origin plantation population, at India House on Tuesday.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Tamil Progressive Alliance leader Mano Ganesan said the delegation expressed gratitude to the Indian minister for announcing a USD 450 million aid package for Sri Lanka amid post-disaster recovery efforts.
Ganesan said the meeting focused on the severe impact of the Ditwah disaster on plantation communities, particularly the loss of housing and land insecurity faced by residents in affected areas. He emphasized the urgent need for “safe land” to relocate vulnerable families living in high-risk zones.
According to Ganesan, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has pledged to allocate safe land plots for housing purposes. He said the delegation requested India to extend its ongoing housing assistance programme to support the construction of homes on land provided by the Sri Lankan government.
The delegation also conveyed appreciation for India’s continued support in rebuilding highway and railway infrastructure damaged by the Ditwah disaster, highlighting the importance of restoring connectivity in plantation regions. (Newswire)