Rajnath Singh visits Sri Lanka to deepen defence and maritime ties

Rajnath Singh began a three-day visit to Sri Lanka with talks and planned defence pacts. The outreach highlights a sharper India-Sri Lanka push on maritime security and strategic trust.

In Short

• Three agreements include air defence, cadet exchanges and defence college training
• India will maintain Sri Lanka's remaining six L70 guns free
• Singh is leading senior defence and external affairs ministry officials

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh arrived in Sri Lanka on Tuesday on a three-day visit during which he will hold talks with the country's top leadership to strengthen bilateral ties and expand cooperation in defence and maritime security.

During the visit, India and Sri Lanka are set to sign three bilateral agreements, including one on air defence cooperation. Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath said the visit would further strengthen bilateral relations beyond defence cooperation.

Ahead of his departure, Singh said he was looking forward to a productive engagement with Sri Lanka's leadership. "Besides our longstanding partnership as well as deep historical and civilisational ties, Sri Lanka is one of our most important partners under the Neighbourhood First and MAHASAGAR initiatives," he said in a post on X.

Singh was received at the Bandaranaike International Airport by Sri Lanka's Deputy Minister of Defence Maj Gen (Retd) Aruna Jayasekara and Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Santosh Jha. India's defence ministry said he was given a warm and traditional welcome by the Sri Lankan side, reflecting the close and enduring ties between the two countries.

According to the ministry, Singh is leading a high-level delegation comprising senior officials from the ministries of defence and external affairs. He will hold talks with Sri Lanka's leadership on a range of issues to further strengthen traditionally strong and friendly bilateral relations in mutually beneficial areas, including a strong maritime and defence partnership, it said.

Herath said the other two agreements involve exchanges between the National Cadet Corps and the National Defence Colleges of the two countries to facilitate joint training and instructor programmes. He also said India supplied 24 40mm L70 air defence guns to the Sri Lanka Air Force between 2000 and 2006 and has carried out free maintenance of 18 of them in recent years.

Under the new agreement, India will provide free maintenance support for the remaining six L70 air defence guns, Herath said. This is the first visit by an Indian Defence Minister to Sri Lanka in 38 years.

Addressing the Indian diaspora in Colombo in the evening, Singh said the relationship between India and Sri Lanka is based on shared history, culture, and faith. "India and Sri Lanka are close friends. We stand with Sri Lanka through thick and thin and are committed to the peace, prosperity, and development of both countries," he said.

Coinciding with his visit, the Indian Navy's INS Udaygiri, an advanced indigenous stealth guided-missile frigate, arrived at Colombo port on Tuesday. The Sri Lanka Navy said the frigate was received in accordance with naval traditions. It said Sri Lanka Navy personnel will visit the frigate for capability familiarisation, knowledge sharing and onboard training, while its crew will take part in goodwill events with the Sri Lanka Navy and visit tourist and cultural sites.

Singh's visit has brought a wider focus on India-Sri Lanka ties, with talks, fresh agreements and naval engagement aimed at deepening cooperation in defence, maritime security and other areas.

With PTI Inputs

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