Strengthening Ties: Rajnath Singh's Visit to Sri Lanka
Rajnath Singh Meets Sri Lankan President
File image of Defence minister Rajnath Singh and Sri Lankan President Mr Anura Kumara Dissanayake(Photo: @rajnathsingh/X)
Colombo, Sep 9: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held discussions with Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in Colombo on Wednesday, where both leaders reiterated their dedication to collaborate for the advancement and welfare of their nations.
During their meeting, Singh extended warm regards from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Dissanayake. They explored strategies to promote safety, security, peace, and prosperity in the region. The Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Santosh Jha, along with other officials, attended the meeting.
Singh shared on X, "Had a warm and extremely productive meeting with H.E. Mr Anura Kumara Dissanayake, President of Sri Lanka in Colombo, today. I conveyed to him greetings on behalf of PM Shri Narendra Modi and extended felicitations on successful completion of two years of his government."
He further stated, "We reaffirmed that as civilisational twins, close neighbours and maritime partners, India and Sri Lanka will continue to collaborate for the development of our countries and the welfare of our people, as well as work together to ensure the safety, security, peace, and prosperity of our region."
On the previous day, Rajnath Singh engaged with the Indian community in Colombo, praising their role in enhancing the relationship between the two nations.
"Delighted to interact with the Indian community in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The Indian diaspora plays a crucial role in strengthening friendship between India and Sri Lanka. The Indian community is the ‘Sethu’ between India and Sri Lanka. India will always stand firmly with Sri Lanka whenever the island nation faces a crisis," Singh noted on X.
Singh arrived in Colombo on Tuesday for a three-day official visit aimed at bolstering bilateral defence and maritime cooperation. Before departing for Colombo, Singh expressed his anticipation for fruitful discussions with Sri Lankan leaders.
Sri Lankan Deputy Minister of Defence Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd.) and Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Santosh Jha warmly welcomed Singh at Bandaranaike International Airport.
The Ministry of Defence stated that Singh's visit aims to further enhance the traditionally strong and friendly bilateral relations in mutually beneficial areas, including a robust maritime and defence partnership.
"India and Sri Lanka share deep civilisational ties and a multifaceted partnership, anchored by regional security, defence, economic and trade cooperation, and strong people-to-people ties. 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," the Ministry of Defence's statement highlighted.
"This underscores India's ongoing commitment to the 'Neighbourhood First' policy and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions)," it added.