India satisfied with its funded projects in Sri Lanka

COLOMBO: India today expressed satisfaction over the progress of the projects funded by it in northern Sri Lanka, as a visiting parliamentary delegation inspected various schemes in the area.

A 12-member delegation of Indian MPs headed by the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj is on a six day visit to the island nation and toured the region in the north today.

There has been a strong criticism by some quarters over the slow progress particularly in the India-funded project to build 50,000 homes for those displaced in the conflict.

The delegation visited Menik Farm camp in Vavuniya and interacted with the people and witnessed the facilities available.

The camp had accommodated nearly 300,000 civilians from the former LTTE held areas.

Only a few thousands are currently living there after the government's re-settlement programme was put in place since the war ended three years ago.

The delegation also next visited Puliyankulam and Mankulam areas, where they inspected India-assisted rail track rehabilitation project.

The delegation, in the company of the economic development minister Basil Rajapaksa, then visited Mullaitivu district general hospital where they donated medical equipment worth around INR 36 million for the people in the North.

The visiting MPs then attended a ceremony at Thanneer Ootru Tamil Maha Vidyalaya at Mullavaikkal, which was an LTTE nerve centre for decades, where they handed over a school building rehabilitated under the Indian-assisted scheme.

150 bicycles, agricultural equipment were also distributed among the needy people.

"Children spoke about their schooling and the adults spoke about the difficulties they went through in the past. Also we witnessed how development projects have progressed and also the progress in the Indian-assisted projects", Swaraj was quoted as saying.

The delegation would visit Jaffna tomorrow and the eastern province on Friday.