The transit housing project at Mannar Madu Church is projected to be completed by September 2021 with an expected cost of Rs.290 million, the Indian High Commission in Colombo said today. The MoU for the construction of the project was signed in August 2020 and Deputy High Commissioner of India, Vinod K Jacob, recently inspected the progress of the project. The Deputy High Commissioner undertook a two- day visit to Mannar and Jaffna from 7 to 8 December 2020. He inspected the ongoing construction of the Indian project for construction of 144 transit houses for pilgrims at the Mannar Madu Church and the upgrading works of the historic Thirukeeteshwaram Temple. At the Thirukeeteshwaram Temple, Government of India has completed restoration of the mahamandapam and other works at a total cost of more than Rs. 320 million. On 7 December, Deputy High Commissioner Jacob also called on the Most Rev. Bishop of Mannar, Dr. Emmanuel Fernando and exchanged views on the potential for development cooperation in the Mannar region. The following day, the Deputy High Commissioner participated in the opening ceremony of the 100 MW wind power project at Thambapawani in Mannar. This project, the first of its kind in Mannar, was declared open by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and involved the participation of Indian executives and workers in the implementing agencies, the High Commission said.