PM Modi honoured with Sri Lanka’s highest civilian award

New Delhi, April 5: Prime Minister Narendra Modi was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the iconic Independence Square in Colombo on Saturday and conferred with the Sri Lanka Mitra Vibhushana, the island nation’s highest honour awarded to foreign dignitaries.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake presented the award, marking the first time an Indian leader has received the distinction of highest civilian award as well as accorded ceremonial welcome at Independence Square in Colombo.

“This honour is not mine alone—it belongs to the 1.4 billion people of India,” Prime Minister Modi said in a post on social media platform X. “It symbolises the deep-rooted friendship and historic ties between the people of India and Sri Lanka. I express my heartfelt gratitude to the President, the Government, and the people of Sri Lanka for this honour.”

The visit, Mr. Modi’s first to Sri Lanka since the National People’s Power (NPP) coalition led by President Dissanayake came to power last year, is widely seen as a reaffirmation of India’s “Neighbourhood First” policy and its maritime strategic vision, MAHASAGAR. It also marks the first state visit by a foreign leader since the change in Colombo’s political leadership.

The two leaders are holding extensive delegation-level talks at the Presidential Secretariat. In a joint push for stronger bilateral ties, they are reviewing progress on existing collaborations and finalising nearly a dozen key outcomes, including a new framework for defence cooperation and expanded energy sector engagement.

High-impact developmental initiatives also took centre stage. The leaders jointly e-inaugurated a 5,000 MT temperature-controlled warehouse in Dambulla—touted as a first-of-its-kind agricultural facility—and announced the supply of 5,000 solar rooftop units to religious institutions across all 25 districts of Sri Lanka. They also launched, virtually, the 120 MW Sampur Solar Power Project, a significant step in the island’s clean energy transition.

In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs described the talks as “productive and forward-looking,” underscoring both sides’ commitment to “Fostering Partnerships for a Shared Future”—a joint vision first articulated during President Dissanayake’s visit to New Delhi in December 2024.
Prime Minister Modi’s stop in Colombo follows his participation in the BIMSTEC summit in Thailand, highlighting New Delhi’s strategic pivot to regional connectivity and cooperative security in South Asia and the Bay of Bengal region.

Official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal remarked: “Bilateral discussions to foster a partnership for a shared future and mutual prosperity lie ahead.” His statement echoed the sentiment shared by both governments, that India-Sri Lanka ties are entering a new, deeper phase of cooperation rooted in shared values and mutual development.

As Colombo turns a new page under President Dissanayake’s left-leaning leadership, Mr. Modi’s visit signals a strategic convergence—an assurance that despite political shifts, the India-Sri Lanka partnership remains firmly anchored in trust, history, and a shared vision for the future.