Colombo, April 5 – Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Sri Lanka for a three-day official visit, marking his first trip to the island nation since 2019 and his fourth since taking office in 2014. The visit signals a renewed thrust in India-Sri Lanka relations, particularly in defense, energy, trade, and connectivity, as both nations look to reinforce regional stability and cooperation.
PM Modi reached Colombo on Friday evening after concluding a two-day visit to Thailand. He was received with a grand ceremonial welcome at Bandaranaike International Airport, where five senior Sri Lankan ministers, including Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath, Health Minister Nalinda Jayatissa, and Fisheries Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekhar, greeted him. Members of the Indian-origin community gathered in large numbers at the airport, chanting “Modi-Modi” and waving Indian flags in a warm show of affection.
PM Modi Posts on ‘X’, Meets Indian Diaspora
PM Modi wrote on X, “I have reached Colombo. I am grateful to the ministers and dignitaries who welcomed me at the airport. I am eagerly waiting for the programs to be held in Sri Lanka.” His message was widely shared and warmly received by both Indian and Sri Lankan audiences.
After his arrival, PM Modi was warmly welcomed by a group of people of Indian origin at the Taj Samudra Hotel in Colombo. Many in the Indian community expressed joy at seeing the Prime Minister in person, underlining the strong cultural and emotional ties that bind the two nations.
Ceremonial Guard of Honour at Independence Square
On Saturday morning, PM Modi was formally welcomed at Colombo’s iconic Independence Square with a ceremonial guard of honor and a gun salute. He was accompanied by key Indian dignitaries including External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri. Prime Minister Modi is also the first foreign leader to be hosted by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake since the latter assumed office.
During this visit, India and Sri Lanka are expected to sign up to ten landmark agreements aimed at boosting cooperation in energy, defense, digitalization, and economic recovery. Among these, seven agreements are likely to focus on defense cooperation, marking a significant milestone as the two countries prepare to ink a defense deal for the first time. This historic agreement is expected to end the 35-year-old bitter legacy of the Indian Peace Keeping Force’s (IPKF) withdrawal from Sri Lanka and could play a key role in counterbalancing China’s growing influence in the region.
High-Stakes Bilateral Talks and Landmark Agreements
Prime Minister Modi and President Dissanayake will hold formal talks at the Presidential Secretariat, where they are expected to review the progress of their shared vision of partnership and development. Addressing the media before his departure, PM Modi stated, “We have an opportunity to review the progress made on the joint vision of promoting partnership for a shared future.”
In Colombo, the two leaders will also inaugurate and dedicate to the nation several major infrastructure and development projects funded by India. Among these is the virtual foundation laying ceremony of the much-anticipated Sampur Solar Power Project, which is seen as a critical step in addressing Sri Lanka’s energy needs. Furthermore, documents outlining India’s support for Sri Lanka’s debt restructuring and currency swap initiatives are expected to be made public during the visit.
Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Santosh Jha, emphasized the importance of energy collaboration in the bilateral relationship. “The energy sector has been one of the strongest pillars of the India-Sri Lanka partnership,” he said. Discussions are ongoing to finalize a tripartite agreement involving India, Sri Lanka, and the UAE for the joint development of oil storage facilities in Trincomalee. This agreement may also feature among the key MoUs signed during the visit.
India’s Support for Sri Lanka’s Recovery
Modi’s visit comes at a time when Sri Lanka is recovering from a severe economic crisis that began in 2022. India had extended a lifeline to the island nation by providing financial aid worth USD 4.5 billion. Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe acknowledged India’s support and optimism over the current visit. “We hope our ties grow stronger and we can begin implementing the connectivity projects we’ve discussed,” he said, urging timely completion of the Economic and Technology Cooperation Agreement (ECTA) within this year.
On Sunday, April 6, Prime Minister Modi and President Dissanayake will travel to the historic city of Anuradhapura, where they will offer prayers at the revered Mahabodhi Temple, further symbolizing the deep cultural and spiritual ties between the two nations.
Modi’s three-day visit, characterized by high-level diplomacy and symbolic gestures, reflects a transformative phase in India-Sri Lanka relations. With defense cooperation entering a new era, and both sides ready to commit to economic and energy collaboration, the visit is poised to leave a lasting imprint on the strategic partnership between the two neighbors.
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