In search of normalcy: The reconstruction of north.

India played a crucial role in reconstruction of north of Sri Lanka through foreign monetary aids.

After the war victory, the President of Sri Lanka, Mahinda Rajapaksha visited India in June 2009. During bilateral talks between two premiers, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh made an announcement that India would support to reconstruct the war affected areas and rehabilitate programmes.

India concerned to assist the GOSL in her post war reconstruction rehabilitation process in several ways. India involved to assist the internally displaced persons in North and East providing financial assistance for several projects in the war affected areas. At the beginning, India government provided emergency supplies of medicine, temporary housing and cement and undertaken demining programmes in war zones with an investment of $ 110 million.

Later, India further extended her cooperation to assist for the post war reconstruction process in Sri Lanka involving with several projects. For example, in 2010 India has granted US$ 27.5 million for reconstruction projects in Northern Province.

India has been involving for reconstruction of Duraiyappa Stadium, cultural centre in Jaffna, assistance for developing health care facilities in Kilinochchi and Mulaitivu, reestablishment of the research institute of Palmyra development board in Jaffna, development of industrial zone, supplying fishing equipment, agriculture tools , buses, tractors and cement for IDPs and related development projects. 9 Further, Government of India has extended the lines of credit amounting to US$ 416.4 million to Sri Lanka for construction of the Northern railway line from Omanthai to Pallai and from Madawachchiya to Talaimannar.

A housing scheme project consists of 50,000 house set is implemented by the Indian government for resettlement families in North and East. This project is under the full grant assistance of the Indian government with a total outlay of US$ 270 million, making one of the largest grant assistance projects implemented by the Indian government in a foreign country. Setting up a coal plant project in Sampur in the Eastern province of Sri Lanka is another important development project implemented by the Indian government during the post war period. In 2010, India has contributed 15% of foreign finance commitment by major donors of Sri Lanka.

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