The Government of India (GOI) has increased the financial allocation for various grant projects being implemented in the country.

Financial allocation has been increased by upto 50% in case of 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 nine 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.

GOI has completed more than 60 grant projects under the HICDP framework, covering all the 25 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. GOI also doubled the ceilings for individual projects as well as the overall financial capital outlay under the framework in January 2023.

GOI’s overall development cooperation partnership portfolio in Sri Lanka is around US$ 5 billion, of which US$ 600 million is grant. Demand-driven and people-centric projects carried out by GOI span across areas such as infrastructure development, housing and livelihood assistance. The 1990 Emergency Ambulance Service, Railway Track rehabilitation, Integrated Water Plants, Indian Housing Project and the Jaffna Cultural Centre are among the projects completed by GOI in Sri Lanka.