India funds Lanka’s housing scheme

Indian government has funded a housing village in north-central Sri Lanka. The housing village is named after a leading Buddhist monk who was instrumental in the ouster of former president MahindaRajapaksa in the presidential election in 2015. The foundation stone was laid on Monday, for the 153-house project at Elapathagama in Anuradhapura named the 'Most VenMaduluwaveSobhithaThero Village. Project is set to be a part of India’s development cooperation with Sri Lanka.  The village will be developed using a grant of 300 million Sri Lankan rupees from the government of India. Sobhitha was instrumental in galvanising the opposition forces against the regime of Rajapaksa. Sobhitha passed away in 2017 after heart surgery.