India on Saturday gifted 1260 computers and 218 laser printers worth 1.5 million USD to 261 schools of the Eastern Provinces of Sri Lanka to promote Information Communication technology (ICT) to the students of the area.India also handed over host of equipments to the Siddha faculty of the Eastern University in the Trincomalee campus as part of its efforts to assist Sri Lanka in promoting traditional medicine forms. Sri Lanka has a long history and tradition in practicing Ayurveda and Siddha medicine.The grant assistance included laboratory equipment, computers, reference books, anatomical models and charts, a bus and a jeep for the use in the Siddha Faculty. The faculty has been equipped to carry out research and study in the field of Siddha. The total assistance for the project is approximately 1 million USD.The Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Ashok K. Kantha, who handed over the computers and other assistance said that Government of India is committed to uplift the war ravaged Eastern and Northern Provinces of Sri Lanka and will provide all support and help in their development .He also highlighted that the Eastern Province had been receiving support from India for many development projects.Recently, 5 units of rail compartments were gifted to the Eastern Province to improve connectivity between two main cities in the east, Batticaloa and Trincomalee. As many as 20 buses were gifted between 2008 and 2010 too. India has also providing assistance to set up vocational training centres in Batticaloa. The centres, costing 3 million USD, will be ready this year.An Indian NGO, SEWA, is training widows in the Eastern Province on means of livelihood. The 2 million USD project involves sending selected widows to India and training them to various trades. They will function as master-trainers and train many more women here.Rear Admiral Mohan Wijewickrama, Governor and Sivanesathurai Santhirakanthan, Chief Minister of Eastern Province who were present on the occasion expressed gratitude to the Indian government for generous assistance to the region.AIR correspondent reports, Ecommunication will get an impetus in the Tamil-dominated Eastern Province of Sri Lanka, with India providing 1260 computers to 261 schools in the region. Handing over the computers to the Principals of the schools, Indian High Commissioner Ashok K Kantha indicated government of India’s willingness to assist in future endeavours of the Eastern region, which is trying to develop after 30 years of armed conflict. He requested the provincial government to provide internet facility for all the schools so that the students could learn better with the support of online content. In another initiative, the Indian government equipped the Siddha faculty of the Eastern University at the Trincomalee campus as part of its efforts to assist Sri Lanka in promoting traditional medicine forms. The total assistance for this project is worth one million USD. Earlier India had gifted 5 units of rail compartments and 20 buses to the Eastern Province to improve connectivity. India is also assisting to set up vocational training centres in Batticaloa at the cost of 3 million USD. An Indian NGO, SEWA, is training widows in the Eastern Province on means of livelihood.