By The Pulseline News Desk
Sri Lanka and India have further strengthened their longstanding defence partnership with the signing of three Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) covering military training, defence education and air-defence equipment maintenance during Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s three-day official visit to Colombo.
The agreements were signed following Singh’s meeting with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake (AKD) at the Presidential Secretariat on Wednesday (9), marking the first visit by an Indian Defence Minister to Sri Lanka in 38 years.
The three MoUs provide for cooperation between the National Cadet Corps of Sri Lanka and India, institutional collaboration between Sri Lanka’s National Defence College and India’s National Defence College in New Delhi, and maintenance support for air-defence systems operated by the Sri Lanka Air Force.
Of particular significance is the agreement covering Sri Lanka’s 40mm L70 air-defence guns. Under the arrangement, India will provide maintenance assistance for the remaining six systems operated by the Sri Lanka Air Force.
India supplied 24 L70 systems to Sri Lanka between 2000 and 2006 and has previously undertaken maintenance work on 18 of the guns.
The agreements come as Colombo and New Delhi seek to expand practical defence cooperation, with military training, professional education, equipment support and maritime security emerging as key areas of bilateral engagement.
Following his meeting with President Dissanayake, Singh described the discussions as “warm and extremely productive”. He conveyed greetings from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and congratulated the President on the completion of two years of his administration.
Singh described India and Sri Lanka as “civilisational twins, close neighbours and maritime partners”, while stressing that both countries would continue to work together for development and the welfare of their people.
He also said the two countries would work jointly to ensure the safety, security, peace and prosperity of the region.
First Indian Defence Ministerial visit in 38 years
Singh arrived in Sri Lanka on Tuesday (8) afternoon and was received at Bandaranaike International Airport by Deputy Minister of Defence Maj. Gen. Aruna Jayasekara (Retd.) and Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Santosh Jha.
His visit is particularly significant as it is the first official visit by an Indian Defence Minister to Sri Lanka since 1988, when then Defence Minister K.C. Pant visited the island.
During his stay, Singh is also scheduled to meet Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya, Defence Ministry Secretary Air Vice Marshal (Retd.) Sampath Thuyacontha and other senior officials.
Indian media reports have indicated that the visit is also expected to include discussions on the implementation of the India-Sri Lanka defence cooperation agreement reached during Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Sri Lanka last year.
The latest agreements therefore provide a concrete follow-up to the broader defence cooperation framework between the two countries, particularly as maritime security and strategic stability in the Indian Ocean continue to gain importance.
Opposition Leader also meets Singh
Singh has also held discussions with Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa in Colombo during his visit.
The meeting provided an opportunity for the two leaders to exchange views on matters of mutual interest and the broader India-Sri Lanka relationship. Singh and Premadasa also exchanged gifts as a gesture of goodwill, reflecting the longstanding ties between the two neighbouring countries.
Meanwhile, Colombo authorities have implemented a special traffic plan for the duration of Singh’s visit, with temporary restrictions on several major roads as the visiting minister travels to various locations.
With Singh scheduled to remain in Sri Lanka until Thursday (10), his visit is expected to give further momentum to defence-to-defence engagement between Colombo and New Delhi.
Beyond the symbolism of a defence ministerial visit after nearly four decades, the three MoUs point towards a more practical phase of bilateral security cooperation, focused not only on high-level strategic dialogue but also on training, institutional links and sustaining Sri Lanka’s existing defence capabilities.
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