Three projects including the creation of India Corner at the Jaffna Public Library and the establishment of an English language laboratory were recently commissioned in the Northern Province.

Supported by the Indian government, the projects included the construction of a four-storeyed 200-bed ward complex at the District Hospital in in Vavuniya at a cost of Rs. 187 million. In the next phase, the government planned to ensure the procurement and supply of medical equipment, costing SLR 100 million.

The India Corner, set up in partnership with the Jaffna Municipal Council, would offer access to a variety of resources such as books, DVDs and periodicals. It would have books procured from India, mainly in Tamil language, on Indian ancient and contemporary history, philosophy, cultural heritage and literature including the one focusing on children besides Tamil art and culture.

The English language laboratory in Kopay, Jaffna, was ninth in the series, marking the total coverage of all nine provinces with one such facility. This was sequel to a memorandum of understanding signed by the governments of India and Sri Lanka four years ago. Costing SLR 84 million, the project was fully funded by the former. Thirty-one computer units and other related equipment, software and teaching aids were provided to each laboratory, apart from training five master trainers in each place.

Participating in the inauguration of the laboratory, C.V. Wigneswaran, Chief Minister of the Northern Province, said the facility would improve the English language skills of students of the Province who were deprived of opportunities to learn English earlier due to the civil war. India's High Commissioner Y.K. Sinha, who was in the Northern Province on Thursday and Friday, said 40,700 houses out of the proposed 50,000 houses under the Indian Housing Project were completed till now. V.S. Radhakrishnan, the Central government's State Minister for Education, was also present.

Work on another project – the construction of blocks accommodating the Centre for Skill Development of the Faculty of Agriculture and Civil and Mechanical Engineering departments of the Faculty of Engineering at the Kilinochchi Campus of the University of Jaffna, all costing SLR 600 million – was also formally launched by Mr Sinha and the Northern Province’s Governor H.M.G.S. Palihakkara.

(The Hindu)