Mr. A. Natarajan,Consul General of India-Jaffna, Prof. Ms. Vasanthy Arasaratnam, Vice Chancellor of University of Jaffna, and other senior officials were also present during the occasion.

As part of its development partnership with Sri Lanka in the field of higher education, the Government of India is undertaking projects to establish a Centre for Skill Development for the Faculty of Agriculture; and a Civil and Mechanical Engineering block of Faculty of Engineering at the Kilinochchi Campus of the University of Jaffna, at a total cost of SLR 600 million. The projects include building construction as well as supply of equipment and furniture, in addition to training and curriculum development.

The objective of the projects is to create infrastructure facilities in order to provide a conducive learning environment for students, increase student intake, and enhance knowledge and skills of both lecturers and students in the field of agricultural sciences and engineering. The project is being implemented in close consultation with the Ministry of Higher Education of Sri Lanka.

Construction of buildings as well as provision of equipment and furniture is expected to be completed by September 2016.