By Anjali Sharma
WASHINGTON – India and Sri Lanka on Saturday signed a major Defence cooperation pact during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Colombo, to strengthening bilateral ties and countering the growing military influence of China in the region.
The agreements, including a Defence pact, come as part of a broader effort to bolster economic, energy, and digital cooperation between the two countries.
India and Sri Lanka have signed 8 memoranda of understanding (MoUs) covered several key sectors, including Defence, health, energy, and digitalization.
One of the MoUs will focus on supplying Sri Lanka with more affordable energy, a much-needed support amid the country’s ongoing economic challenges.
The Defence pact, will include high-level discussions on restructuring Sri Lanka’s debt, enhancing bilateral connectivity, and further cooperation across various domains. PM Modi’s visit is expected to significantly boost diplomatic relations between the two nations.
Modi arrived in Colombo on Friday, received a warm welcome from hundreds of locals and members of the Indian diaspora.
Top ministers from Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s Cabinet, including Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath, Health Minister Nalinda Jayatissa, and Labour Minister Anil Jayantha, were present at Bandaranaike International Airport to greet the Prime Minister.
India Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said ahead of PM Modi’s visit “The India-Sri Lanka relationship is deeply rooted in civilisational links, shared history, religion, culture, and strong people-to-people ties. In the modern era, it has evolved into a close economic, cultural, and technical partnership,”.
He emphasized “Sri Lanka is an integral part of our ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy, and this relationship, built on mutual trust and goodwill, has stood the test of time.”
Modi’s visit marks the first time he will be hosted by President Dissanayake in his capacity as Sri Lanka’s President.
They are expected to witness the exchange of multiple agreements related to energy connectivity, digitization, Defence, and health.
Both nations are set to review progress on the areas of cooperation outlined in the Joint Vision for ‘Fostering Partnerships for a Shared Future’, adopted during the Sri Lankan President’s state visit to India earlier.
He met other political leaders of the nation before travelling to Anuradhapura with Dissanayake for the inauguration of development projects implemented with Indian financial assistance on Sunday.
In Anuradhapura, both leaders will pay respect at the historic Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi temple complex in Anuradhapura.
PM Modi had also visited the temple, which holds a special significance in India-Sri Lanka civilizational partnership, during his visit to the country in 2015.
Prime Minister Modi then visited Sri Lanka again in 2019.
Both leaders discussed all issues related to fishermen, including the early release and repatriation of Indian fishermen and fishing boats.
Hundreds of locals and members of the Indian diaspora community braved heavy rain to give a rousing reception to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Colombo late Saturday evening as he arrived from Bangkok on a State Visit at the invitation of Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
In a special welcome, top ministers from Dissanayake’s cabinet, including Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath, Health Minister Nalinda Jayatissa, Labour Minister Anil Jayantha, Fisheries Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar, Women and Child Affairs Minister Saroja Savithri Paulraj and Science and Technology Minister Chrishantha Abeysena welcomed PM Modi at Colombo’s Bandaranaike International Airport as people gathered outside the airport and at the hotel.
Modi travelled to Sri Lanka after attending the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation Summit in Bangkok and will return home on April 6.
“Landed in Colombo. Grateful to the ministers and dignitaries who welcomed me at the airport. Looking forward to the programmes in Sri Lanka,” PM Modi posted on X after arriving in Colombo.
Colombo has maintained that the State Visit of Dissanayake to India in December last year his first overseas visit as the President of Sri Lanka – marked a “watershed moment” in bilateral relations.
The robust diplomatic relations between the two neighbours are expected to get a further boost as PM Modi will be the first foreign leader to be hosted by President Dissanayake in his capacity as Sri Lanka’s President.
During their discussions, both leaders will also be discussing all issues related to fishermen, including the early release and repatriation of Indian fishermen and fishing boats.
The Indian government maintains that it has attached the “highest priority” to the safety, security and welfare of Indian fishermen and has been consistently taking up these issues through bilateral mechanisms, diplomatic channels, and various official interactions, including by the Prime Minister in his recent meeting with the Sri Lankan President on December 16, 2024.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri acknowledged that it is a longstanding issue that traces its origins to arrangements made in the mid-1970s when the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) between India and Sri Lanka was agreed upon by the authorities at both the central and state levels.
India has also repeatedly requested the Sri Lankan Government to treat the fishermen issue as a humanitarian and livelihood concern without using force under any circumstances.
The post India, Sri Lanka signed major defence pact appeared first on Global Governance News- Asia's First Bilingual News portal for Global News and Updates.
