PM Modi’s landmark visit to Sri Lanka seals historic defence pact, deepens strategic, civil ties

New Delhi, Apr 5: Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded a successful visit to Sri Lanka on Saturday, marking a new era in bilateral relations with the signing of a historic defence cooperation pact, along with six other key agreements. Describing the visit as “extensive and productive,” PM Modi highlighted that India and Sri Lanka’s destinies are “interlinked and interdependent.”

In a post on X, the Prime Minister stated: “Held extensive and productive talks with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in Colombo. A few months ago, President Dissanayake chose India as the place for his first overseas visit after becoming President. Now, I have the honour of being the first foreign leader he is hosting in his Presidency. This indicates his personal commitment to India-Sri Lanka ties and the unbreakable bond that exists between our nations.”

MoU on Defence Cooperation

At the heart of this visit was the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Defence Cooperation, the first comprehensive pact of its kind between India and Sri Lanka, signed nearly four decades after the Indian Peace Keeping Force’s deployment to the island nation in the late 1980s. The agreement is seen as a strategic leap in maritime security in the Indian Ocean, counter-terrorism collaboration, joint training, and defence technology sharing.

“We believe our security interests are aligned,” said PM Modi during his address in Colombo. “The security of our two countries is interconnected and interdependent. I thank President Dissanayake for his sensitivity to India’s interests. We welcome the important agreement signed on defence cooperation. We also agreed to work together on the Colombo Security Conclave and on maritime security in the Indian Ocean.” This agreement reflects India’s growing emphasis on regional security under its Neighbourhood First and SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) initiatives, with Sri Lanka assuming a central role.

“I am delighted to share that the relics of Lord Buddha, discovered in my home state Gujarat, are being sent to Sri Lanka for public viewing,” said the Prime Minister, reaffirming India’s deep-rooted spiritual ties with the island. PM Modi used the platform to reaffirm India’s support for Sri Lanka’s internal reconciliation process. “We discussed reconstruction and reconciliation in Sri Lanka. We hope the Government of Sri Lanka will fulfil the aspirations of the Tamil people and implement the Constitution in full, including holding Provincial Council Elections.”

He added, quoting the Tamil poet Thiruvalluvar: “What greater protection can there be than the shield of true friendship against challenges and enemies?” PM Modi expressed optimism for the future: “The relationship between India and Sri Lanka is based on mutual trust and goodwill. We will continue to work together to fulfil the hopes and aspirations of our people. I am confident that in the coming times, we will take our partnership to new heights.”

PM Modi’s 2025 Sri Lanka three-day visit is not just diplomatic, it is strategic, spiritual, and symbolic. It redefined the India-Sri Lanka relationship, bringing together defence, development, and diplomacy into one shared vision for the region.