CONSULATE GENERAL OF INDIA

JAFFNA

PRESS RELEASE

          His Excellency Yashvardhan Kumar Sinha, High Commissioner of India was on a two-day official trip to Jaffna on 4-5 September 2013.  This was the first trip of the High Commissioner to Jaffna after presentation of his credentials to His Excellency the President of Sri Lanka.

High Commissioner visited houses constructed at Navaladi, Ariyalai under the first phase of Indian Housing Pilot Project.   Later he inaugurated one of the houses of a beneficiary at Eluthumattuval, built under the owner-driven scheme of the second phase of the Indian housing project.  High Commissioner also interacted with the beneficiaries of the houses.

            Later in the afternoon on 4 September, High Commissioner had a meeting with Hon. G.A. Chandrasiri, Governor of Northern Province and after exchange of pleasantries High Commissioner informed the Governor the progress of the on-going projects being undertaken in the Northern Province with the assistance of Government of India.  The Governor profusely thanked for all the support provided by the Government of India in all the spheres including agriculture, fisheries, education, health, industrial and transport infrastructure to improve the lives of people of the Northern Province. The Hon’ble Governor of Northern Province hosted a lunch for the High Commissioner of India at Governor’s Bungalow.

          High Commissioner in the evening attended the “Divine Ecstasy-II” cultural festival being held at Sankiliyan Thoppu as the Chief Guest where a scintillating performance was rendered by Padmashri Ms. Leela Samson Bharatnatyam exponent from India. High Commissioner in his remarks at the event said that he was happy to come to Jaffna during the Nallur Annual Temple Festival.  He further said that the cultural festival is part of various steps being taken by Government of India to revive the cultural ties with the Northern Province on long-term basis.  High Commissioner thanked the Hon’ble Governor of Northern Province for his support in organising this cultural festival.

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Jaffna

5 September 2013