PM Modi in Sri Lanka: Colombo gives rare welcome to PM; major deals signed

Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed in Sri Lanka's Colombo on Friday evening to a warm reception and was greeted at Bandaranaike International Airport by five top Sri Lankan ministers, including Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath, Health Minister Nalinda Jayatissa, and Fisheries Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar.

PM Modi on Saturday morning also received a ceremonial welcome at the Independence Square, where he was received by Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

Sri Lanka accorded this honour to a visiting dignitary reportedly for the first time, making the gesture both historic and symbolic of the deepening ties between the two neighbours.

PM Modi in Sri Lanka

PM Modi took to microblogging platform X and thanked the officials who received him, stating, “Landed in Colombo. Grateful to the ministers and dignitaries who welcomed me at the airport. Looking forward to the programmes in Sri Lanka.”

India and Sri Lanka were set to announce around 10 significant agreements during PM Modi's visit to Sri Lanka, including key partnerships in defence, energy security, and digitalisation, a news agency PTI report said.

Major deals signed

For the first time, India and Sri Lanka on Saturday inked an ambitious defence cooperation pact following talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

PM Modi and President Anura Kumara Dissanayake held discussions which marked a new chapter in bilateral cooperation between the two nations. India, Sri Lanka also inked pact to develop Trincomalee as energy hub following talks between PM Modi and President Dissanayake.

PM Modi and President Dissanayake virtually inaugurate Sampur solar power project on Saturday.

PM Modi, who reached Sri Lanka after concluding a two-day visit to Thailand, was also welcomed by a group of Indian-origin people at his hotel, the Taj Samudra, where he is staying for the duration of his three-day trip.

This marks the first time that Dissanayake, in his capacity as president, will host a foreign leader. PM Modi’s last visit to Sri Lanka was in 2019.

PM Modi and Dissanayake held hold both one-on-one and delegation-level talks, which were expected to result in at least 10 major outcomes, including the defence cooperation agreement and expanded collaboration in the energy sector, the PTI report said.

The signing of an MoU on defence cooperation is seen as a key development in India-Sri Lanka relations, signaling a new phase in defence ties after the contentious withdrawal of the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) from Sri Lanka over three decades ago.

PM Modi’s visit comes at a time when Sri Lanka is recovering from the severe economic crisis that hit the country three years ago. India played a crucial role in providing financial assistance worth $4.5 billion to support Sri Lanka during its time of need.

Following the talks, two key documents related to India's support for Sri Lanka’s debt restructuring and currency swap are expected to be made public. The two nations were also expected to sign agreements on cooperation in the digital sector.

During PM Modi’s visit, several India-assisted projects in Sri Lanka were to be inaugurated, including the virtual groundbreaking of the Sampur solar energy project, which is expected to be a milestone in the bilateral partnership.

PM Modi and Dissanayake will also travel to the historic city of Anuradhapura on April 6, where they will pay their respects at the Mahabodhi temple and jointly inaugurate two India-assisted projects.