India to finance major harbour in Sri Lanka (Lead)
May 8th, 2011 - 2:09 pm ICT by IANSNew Delhi, May 8 (IANS) India will provide financial aid to develop the biggest harbour in Sri Lanka’s north to facilitate transportation of goods from nearby Indian ports, according to a Sri Lankan official here.
The Kankasanthurai harbour in Jaffna peninsula will be developed in two phases. The harbour is one of 10 sea and air entry points to the country.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who holds the finance portfolio, presented to the cabinet the proposal to develop the harbour.
Sri Lanka High Commission’s Minister-Counsellor Sugeeswara Senadhira said the cabinet gave the green signal to the project last week.
The project will involve repairs to the existing breakwater, jetty and deepening of the harbour. A new breakwater will also be constructed.
“A Memorandum of Understanding with the Indian government is to be signed shortly,” Senadhira told IANS.
The harbour’s development is expected to enable the economic and social development of war-torn northern Sri Lanka. The harbour will facilitate the transportation of goods from nearby Indian ports.
After the Tamil Tigers were crushed in May 2009, Sri Lanka started major reconstruction programmes in its north and east. India is funding some of the projects.
- India to finance major harbour project in Sri Lanka - May 08, 2011
- Mathai raises issue of Tamil fishermen with Sri Lanka - Oct 10, 2011
- Joint parliamentary panel begins goodwill visit to Lanka - Apr 16, 2012
- Krishna in Sri Lanka, to push for devolution (Lead) - Nov 25, 2010
- Indian firm to invest in Sri Lanka - Dec 01, 2011
- Krishna flies to Jaffna to assist ethnic Tamils - Jan 18, 2012
- Krishna likely to open strategic Jaffna, Hambantota consulates in Oct end - Oct 05, 2010
- Sri Lankan minister says all political leaders pardoned in 1987 (Lead) - Jun 10, 2010
- Rajapaksa has given firm commitment to empower Tamils: Krishna - Jan 20, 2012
- First visit to northern Sri Lanka by a president in 30 years - Jan 10, 2010
- Krishna brings healing touch to Tamils (Lead) - Jan 18, 2012
- Sri Lanka to free more Tamil rebels - Nov 17, 2011
- Krishna heads to Lanka, hopes for solution to Tamils' problems (Lead) - Jan 15, 2012
- Krishna to visit Sri Lanka Jan 16 - Jan 07, 2012
- Indian delegation holds talks in Sri Lanka - Apr 17, 2012
Tags: breakwater, east india, economic and social development, finance portfolio, financial aid, indian government, indian ports, jetty, mahinda rajapaksa, memorandum of understanding, minister counsellor, New Delhi, northern sri lanka, peninsula, president mahinda rajapaksa, reconstruction, sri lanka high commission, sri lankan, tamil tigers, transportation of goods