India's $60 Million Investment to Revitalize Sri Lanka's Kankesanthurai Port

In a significant move to boost tourism and infrastructure, India has committed $60 million to renovate the Kankesanthurai port in Jaffna, Sri Lanka. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake announced this initiative during a recent event, emphasizing the region's potential for tourism and the need for improved living conditions for displaced families. The funding aims to address critical infrastructure needs, including the renovation of Palaly Airport. Dissanayake also launched a national housing program to assist war-displaced families, promising to resolve their housing issues during his term. This investment marks a crucial step in strengthening India-Sri Lanka relations and fostering development in the Northern Province.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jan 16, 2026, 20:00 IST

Significant Development for Jaffna's Port

Colombo: The Indian government has pledged $60 million to upgrade the Kankesanthurai port located in the Jaffna district of northern Sri Lanka, as announced by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Friday.

During a gathering in Jaffna, which is known as the cultural hub for the Tamil community, Dissanayake highlighted the region's tourism potential, stating, "We aim to enhance Palaly Airport and commence renovations at Kankesanthurai Port shortly, with India's financial support of $60 million."

He emphasized that his administration is actively pursuing a comprehensive development plan for the Northern Province to elevate the living conditions of its residents.

The joint statement from the India-Sri Lanka meeting on December 16, 2024, between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Dissanayake, indicated a collaborative effort to rehabilitate Kankesanthurai port, funded by India.

On the same day, Dissanayake participated in the launch of the 2026 National Housing Programme, titled 'A Place to Belong – A Beautiful Life', aimed at assisting 31,218 families across the nation, including 2,500 families displaced by conflict in the North and East, in Chavakachcheri, near Jaffna.

In the initial phase, the government plans to allocate LKR 2 million per house for 800 families affected by war in the Jaffna district. He assured that the housing challenges faced by all war-displaced individuals will be addressed during his tenure.

Dissanayake acknowledged the extensive damage caused by the war, stating, "Many homes were destroyed, and despite the time elapsed, they remain unrepaired. The people of Jaffna have endured displacement long after the conflict ended, lacking a place to call home."

He expressed his commitment to resolving the housing issues of all displaced families during his administration.

Sri Lanka's diverse population includes both ethnic Sri Lankan Tamils and Indian-origin Tamils, primarily residing in the northern and eastern regions.

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) waged a nearly 30-year military campaign for a separate Tamil homeland until its defeat in 2009, which resulted in the death of its leader, V Prabhakaran.

Dissanayake reflected on the long-standing conflicts, stating, "None of us gained from these struggles. They left behind families without homes, children without parents, and a devastated economy. Both North and South suffered as victims of this war."

He criticized the divisive politics that fueled racial tensions, asserting, "I guarantee that we will not tolerate racism in any form across our nation, whether in the North, South, East, or among Sinhalese, Tamils, or Muslims."

Dissanayake concluded with a vision for a harmonious society, stating, "We aspire for a nation where everyone coexists peacefully, alongside a thriving economy and a fulfilling life."