Archive · 31 Jul 2026
India Grants $7.5B to Sri Lanka, Strengthens Bilateral Ties
India has given more than $7.5 billion to help Sri Lanka.
The money is used for things like houses, schools, hospitals, and trains.
India’s ambassador, Santosh Jha, met Sri Lankan officials and signed a deal to give a hospital in Deniyaya new medical equipment.
India also promised to help with a program called the Colombo Plan, which trains people in many countries.
All of this shows that India and Sri Lanka are working closely together to improve life for people in Sri Lanka.
India has provided over USD 7.5 billion in assistance to Sri Lanka across all 25 districts.
The assistance includes more than USD 850 million in grants covering housing, healthcare, education, railways, energy, and livelihoods.
High Commissioner Santosh Jha signed a MoU with Sri Lanka’s health secretary for a SLR 600 million grant to equip Deniyaya Hospital.
India pledged support to the Colombo Plan’s Capacity Building Programme and discussed 75th‑anniversary initiatives.
The aid package is part of a USD 450 million reconstruction effort after Cyclone Ditwah.
- Who
- India’s High Commissioner Santosh Jha, Sri Lanka’s Minister of Labour and Foreign Employment Anil Jayantha Fernando, and Sri Lanka’s Minister of Health secretary Anil Jasinghe
- What
- India provided over USD 7.5 billion in assistance, signed a MoU for medical equipment, and pledged support to the Colombo Plan
- When
- July 2024 (meeting on July 21, MoU on July 14)
- Where
- Sri Lanka, including Colombo and Deniyaya
- Why
- to support development projects, disaster preparedness, and strengthen bilateral relations
- Total assistance
- USD 7.5 billion
- Grant portion
- USD 850 million
- Hospital grant
- SLR 600 million
- Reconstruction package
- USD 450 million
- MoU signing date
- July 14, 2024