Sept 02, Colombo: Responding to rapid changes in the economic landscape of Sri Lanka, Government of India (GOI) has increased the financial allocation for various grant projects being implemented across the length and breadth of the country, the High Commission of India said Friday.

Financial allocation has been increased by up to 50 percent for nine ongoing projects which are being executed under the India-Sri Lanka High Impact Community Development Project (HICDP) framework.

The overall financial commitment for these 9 projects currently stands at close to Rs. 3 billion, after the increase. These projects cut across sectors ranging from education and health to agriculture, among others.

The Government of India has completed more than 60 grant projects under the HICDP framework, covering all the25 Districts of Sri Lanka. In addition, 20 other projects are under different stages of implementation.

The HICDP framework was signed between the two countries in 2005 and subsequently renewed thrice, for a period of five years each time. The Indian government also doubled the ceilings for individual projects as well as the overall financial capital outlay under the framework in January 2023, the High Commission said.

The Indian Government’s overall development cooperation partnership portfolio in Sri Lanka is around USD 5 billion, of which USD 600 million is grant.

Demand-driven and people-centric projects carried out by Government of India span across areas such as infrastructure development, housing, livelihood assistance etc. 1990 Emergency Ambulance Service, Railway Track rehabilitation, Integrated Water Plants, Indian Housing Project and Jaffna Cultural Center are among the landmark projects completed by India in Sri Lanka.