By The Pulseline News Desk
India and Sri Lanka are set to further strengthen defence cooperation this week, with Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh scheduled to undertake an official visit to Sri Lanka from today (8) till Thursday (10).
Singh will lead a high-level delegation comprising senior officials from India’s Defence and External Affairs ministries and is expected to hold discussions with Sri Lankan leaders on a range of bilateral and regional issues.
The visit is expected to see the signing of three new defence-related memoranda of understanding, including one reportedly covering the supply of Indian air-defence guns. The other agreements are expected to strengthen links between the cadet corps of the two countries and between the Sri Lanka Defence College and Indian defence institutions.
The two sides will also review the India-Sri Lanka Defence Cooperation MoU signed during President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s visit to India in April 2025.
Singh is scheduled to meet President Dissanayake, who holds the Defence portfolio, and Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya. He will also hold discussions with Defence Secretary Air Vice Marshal (Retd.) Sampath Thuyacontha and the commanders of the three armed forces.
The visit will also include a review of Indian-funded reconstruction projects following Cyclone Ditwah in 2025. India provided US$450 million in assistance for the renovation of infrastructure damaged by the disaster, with Singh expected to review progress and virtually open three rebuilt bridges.
India says the visit reflects the longstanding civilisational ties and multifaceted partnership between the two countries, spanning regional security, defence, trade, economic cooperation and people-to-people links.
New Delhi has also highlighted its assistance to Sri Lanka during the 2022 economic crisis and its early response following Cyclone Ditwah, describing the support as part of its “Neighbourhood First” policy and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s MAHASAGAR vision.
Singh’s visit is therefore expected to place particular emphasis on strengthening the two countries’ maritime and defence partnership in the Indian Ocean region.
The Indian Defence Minister will also interact with the Indian diaspora in Colombo, attend a Bodhi Pooja at Gangaramaya Temple and visit the Sita Amman Kovil in Nuwara Eliya before concluding his visit on Thursday.
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