NEW DELHI, September 6 (H.S.): Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will undertake an official visit to Sri Lanka from September 8 to 10. During the three-day visit, Singh will engage with the Sri Lankan leadership and interact with members of the Indian community in Colombo. He will lead a high-level delegation comprising senior officials from the Ministries of Defence and External Affairs.

The Defence Minister’s visit to Sri Lanka is expected to further strengthen the traditionally close and friendly ties between the two countries.

The primary objective of the visit is to reinforce bilateral defence and maritime security cooperation between India and Sri Lanka. Singh is scheduled to meet Sri Lankan President and Defence Minister Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya and Defence Secretary Sampath Thuyacontha.

He will also interact with members of the Indian diaspora in Colombo. Senior officials from the Ministries of Defence and External Affairs will accompany him as part of the high-level delegation.

The visit is also expected to include a review of the full and timely implementation of the India-Sri Lanka Memorandum of Understanding on Defence Cooperation, signed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Colombo on April 5, 2025.

The five-year agreement seeks to deepen defence cooperation between India and Sri Lanka and address shared security concerns in the Indian Ocean. It covers several areas, including enhanced joint military exercises, capacity building, cooperation in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, and an increase in port calls by naval vessels of the two countries.

The agreement also provides for exploring opportunities for cooperation in the defence industry. Valid for five years, it can be terminated by either side by providing three months’ prior notice. It may also be extended for an additional three years through mutual agreement between the two countries.

India and Sri Lanka share deep civilisational ties and a multifaceted partnership encompassing regional security, defence, economic and trade cooperation, as well as strong people-to-people connections.

Bilateral relations received a further boost when India extended substantial assistance to Sri Lanka during its economic crisis. India was also among the first countries to extend assistance to Sri Lanka following Cyclone Ditwah in 2025.

India has consistently reaffirmed its commitment to its ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy and demonstrated its vision of mutual and comprehensive progress aimed at promoting security and development across the region.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar