by Rajeewa Jayaweera-October 18, 2014
High Commissioner Sinha in his speech during the symposium to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Anagarika Dharmapala which he attended as Chief Guest had stated his country was "saddened by the under-appreciation of Indian aid" by Sri Lanka. He had further spoken of the failure to mention or acknowledge India’s assistance in the Northern Line railway project which enabled the recent start of the Yal Devi train connecting the North to the rest of the country in publicity material, the USD 1.6 billion handed over to Sri Lanka since the end of the war of which 30% being grants, rebuilding of hospitals to medical services with Indian doctors provided free of charge, assistance for IDPs, building of 50,000 houses of which 15,000 have been completed to name a few. He has also stated that "India was focussed on the needs of the people of Sri Lanka and was not dictating the needs of the Indian government or its people" and the "need for Sri Lankan people to know that India has been continuously providing aid and assistance".