Despite periodic fluctuations in diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and India, India has consistently extended significant assistance to Sri Lanka in recent history. These grants have particularly stood out in the post-war period and during the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs of India, the Indian government has provided over USD 700 million in grants to the Sri Lankan government to date. Notably, the second-largest foreign grant received by Sri Lanka was a USD 257.3 million donation from India in 2012 for the construction of 49,000 houses across the Northern, Eastern, Central, and Uva provinces.
These grants, offered at various times, hold greater present-day value than their original disbursed amounts. India’s assistance spans several critical sectors, including conflict management, health, education, disaster response, transportation, and women’s empowerment.
India has also played a crucial role in Sri Lanka’s healthcare support during crises, donating essential medical supplies during the economic downturn and initiating the 1990 Suwaseriya ambulance service, a landmark gift in emergency health response.
The following are key grants made from 1973 to 2023, provided directly from the Indian government to the Sri Lankan government. Grants issued to other institutions or non-governmental entities are not included here.
Highlights of Indian Grants to Sri Lanka (1973–2023)
- 10,000 Metric Tons of Rice
Value: USD 3.1 million
Date: 17 May 1982
Area: Budget Balancing
- Emergency Rehabilitation and Reconstruction
Value: USD 19.1 million
Date: 9 September 1987
Area: Conflict Management
- Construction of 150-Bed District Hospital in Hatton, Dickoya
Value: USD 8.5 million
Date: 16 April 2008
Area: Health
- Rural Vocational Training Centre, Nagavilluwa, Puttalam
Value: USD 0.7 million
Date: 16 April 2008
Area: Education
- Humanitarian Aid to Northern and Eastern Provinces
Value: USD 20.1 million
Date: 3 December 2009
Area: Conflict Management
- 1,000 Housing Units in Northern Province
Value: USD 9.8 million
Date: 28 December 2011
Area: Conflict Management
- Renovation of Kankesanthurai Port (Two Phases)
Value: USD 2.2 million (July 2011), USD 17.8 million (October 2011)
Area: Transportation
- Vocational Training Centres – Batticaloa Region
Value: USD 3.1 million
Date: 21 April 2011
Area: Education
- Nuwara Eliya Vocational Training Center
Value: USD 2 million
Date: 11 July 2011
Area: Education
- Women’s Trade Facilitation and Learning Center – Batticaloa
Value: USD 1.9 million
Date: 9 June 2011
Area: Women’s Empowerment
- Construction of 49,000 Houses (Four Provinces)
Value: USD 257.3 million
Date: 17 January 2012
Area: Conflict Management
- Comprehensive Emergency Response Services – Phase I
Value: USD 7.6 million
Date: 27 November 2015
Area: Disaster Management
- Surgical Unit and Equipment at Batticaloa Hospital
Value: USD 1.9 million
Date: 21 April 2011
Area: Health
- Rehabilitation of 27 Northern Province Schools
Value: USD 1.7 million
Date: 5 February 2016
Area: Education
- Trilingual Secondary School in Polonnaruwa
Value: USD 2 million
Date: 2 February 2017
Area: Education
- Launch of 1990 Suwaseriya Ambulance Service
Value: USD 7.6 million
Date: 27 November 2016
Area: Health
- Medical and Emergency Health Supplies
- 25 tons of medicines (January 2020)
- 500,000 Covishield vaccines (January 2021)
- 100,000 rapid antigen test kits (February 2022)
- 26 tons of medicines and supplies – Value: USD 0.7 million (May 2022)
Area: Health
Sources:- Verité Research, Department of External Affairs (Sri Lanka), Ministry of External Affairs (India)
ARTICLE SOURCE :- BBC SINHALA
