Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Embarks on Three-Day Visit to Strengthen Ties with Sri Lanka

Rajnath Singh's Official Visit to Sri Lanka

New Delhi, Sep 8: On Tuesday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh set off for a three-day trip to Sri Lanka, aimed at enhancing maritime and defence collaboration between the two nations.

During his stay, Singh is scheduled to engage in discussions with Sri Lankan leaders on various topics to bolster bilateral relations, particularly focusing on maritime and defence partnerships. He is accompanied by a high-ranking delegation that includes senior officials from both the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of External Affairs.

According to a post on X by the Ministry of Defence, "Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh today left for Sri Lanka on a 3-day visit to the island nation. Leading a high-level delegation, Raksha Mantri will hold talks with the leadership of Sri Lanka on a range of issues to further strengthen traditionally strong and friendly bilateral relations in mutually beneficial areas, including a strong maritime and defence partnership. He will also interact with the Indian diaspora in Colombo during the visit."

Singh expressed his anticipation for a "productive engagement" with Sri Lankan officials, highlighting the importance of Sri Lanka as a key partner for India under the Neighbourhood First and MAHASAGAR initiatives.

In a message shared on X, Singh stated, "Leaving New Delhi for Sri Lanka on a three-day official visit. Looking forward to a productive engagement with the leadership of Sri Lanka during the visit. I shall also be interacting with the vibrant Indian diaspora in Sri Lanka. Besides our longstanding partnership as well as deep historical and civilisational ties, Sri Lanka is one of our most important partners under the Neighbourhood First and MAHASAGAR initiatives."

The Ministry of Defence's statement emphasized the deep civilizational connections and multifaceted partnership between India and Sri Lanka, which is rooted in regional security, defence, economic cooperation, and strong people-to-people relations.

"The bilateral relationship received further impetus when India assisted Sri Lanka during the economic crisis and provided assistance, as one of the first responders, in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah in Sri Lanka in 2025. It underscored India’s continued commitment and emphasis on the ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions)," the statement elaborated.

Last year, India announced a reconstruction package worth USD 450 million for Sri Lanka following Cyclone Ditwah, which included rehabilitation of infrastructure, housing, health, education, agriculture, and disaster preparedness.

In August, Sri Lankan Navy Commander Vice-Admiral Damian Fernando visited India, where he met with Chief of Defence Staff General N.S. Raja Subramani to review bilateral defence cooperation.

"CDS General N.S. Raja Subramani interacted with Vice-Admiral Damian Fernando, Sri Lanka Navy Commander, during his official visit to India. The leaders reviewed existing bilateral defence cooperation, explored new avenues for joint military training and capacity enhancement, and discussed key regional security matters to further deepen the India–Sri Lanka strategic partnership," the Headquarters of Integrated Defence Staff posted on X.

Vice-Admiral Fernando also met Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, focusing on the progress of various initiatives under the Bilateral Defence Cooperation Plan between the two nations.

Additionally, he met with Indian Navy chief, Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, where they discussed enhancing maritime security cooperation. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining peace and stability in the Indian Ocean region, in line with India's MAHASAGAR vision, as stated by the Indian Navy.