India-backed housing project launches foundation for 57 homes in Sri Lanka's Badulla district

On 2 August, the Indian Housing Project (IHP) entered its fourth phase with the laying of foundations for 57 houses in Badulla district's Kannavarela estate, funded by a grant from the Indian government.

The phase targets the construction of 10,000 homes across six Sri Lankan provinces and is part of a larger plan to build about 60,000 homes nationwide with an investment of more than 18 billion rupees. Earlier phases have delivered 46,000 homes in the war‑affected north and east and 4,000 homes for plantation‑sector workers.

Sri Lanka's Plantation and Community Infrastructure Minister KV Samanta Vidyaratne and Indian Consul General Harvinder Singh attended the ceremony. The initiative follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s July 2023 announcement of a 750 million‑rupee multi‑sector grant for the Indian‑origin Tamil community in the plantation region.

Officials say the housing will improve living standards for disadvantaged families, strengthen bilateral ties, and support Sri Lanka’s economic recovery after its recent financial crisis.