India signs MoU with Sri Lanka to support livelihood of fishermen, farmers

India on Thursday signed a MoU with Sri Lanka to support livelihood of the fishing and farming communities by providing them equipment worth USD two million in the country’s southern Hambantota district.

The agreement was signed at the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development by Y K Sinha, High Commissioner of India and W M M R Adikari, Secretary, Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development in the presence of Mahinda Amaraweera, Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development.

The project envisages gift of equipment and tools such as grub hoes, bicycles, life jackets and sewing machines worth 300 million rupees (USD two million) to the fishing and farming communities in Hambantota district.

More than 75,000 people in the district will get direct benefit from the project. The project will be implemented on consultation with the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development and relevant authorities.

High Commission of India will float a tender to procure the gift items through a competitive bidding process.