Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Sri Lanka has resulted in the signing of several key agreements, marking a new phase of bilateral cooperation between the two countries.
Modi arrived in Colombo for a bilateral engagement with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
The visit, coming just months after President Dissanayake chose India as his first overseas destination after assuming office, has yielded significant outcomes across multiple sectors.
The Indian Prime Minister received an exceptionally warm welcome, beginning with a reception by six Cabinet Ministers led by Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath.
The ceremonial welcome at Colombo’s iconic Independence Square, reportedly the first time the venue has hosted a foreign leader, set the tone for the high-level talks that followed.
Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri highlighted the visit’s significance, stating: “These two high-level visits, occurring in close succession, reflect the strength and momentum in our bilateral relations.”
The discussions focused on implementing the joint vision adopted during former President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s India visit last year, covering connectivity, economic cooperation, and people-to-people ties.
The leaders of Sri Lanka and India marked a new chapter in bilateral cooperation by virtually inaugurating several transformative projects.
Chief among these was the 120 MW Sampur solar power plant, a pioneering initiative that will accelerate Sri Lanka’s clean energy transition while generating employment opportunities and lowering electricity costs.
Sri Lanka’s first state-of-the-art temperature-controlled warehousing facility in Dambulla was also launched and is set to revolutionise agricultural storage and distribution.
Further, solar rooftop systems will be installed across 5,000 religious institutions nationwide, contributing approximately 25 MW of clean energy to the national grid.
Complementing these projects, India committed Rs. 2.37 billion in new grant funding targeting livelihood enhancement, agricultural development, and educational initiatives in Sri Lanka’s Eastern Province.
Energy cooperation reached new heights with two landmark agreements. The electricity grid interconnection Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) establishes the framework for future energy-sharing between the nations, while the trilateral energy hub agreement with the UAE for Trincomalee promises to strengthen Sri Lanka’s energy security while creating potential export revenue streams.
“The UAE’s participation as India’s strategic energy partner made it the natural choice for this groundbreaking regional initiative,” explained Misri.
The partnership extended into digital and healthcare sectors through important agreements. A digital transformation MOU will facilitate the implementation of India’s successful digital public infrastructure model in Sri Lanka, while new healthcare agreements – including mutual recognition of pharmaceutical certifications – will expand access to affordable, high-quality Indian medicines in the Sri Lankan market.
Cultural ties received substantial reinforcement through several announcements. India pledged support for three major heritage projects: the Sacred City development in Anuradhapura, the renovation of Thirukoneswaram Temple in Trincomalee, and improvements to the Sita Eliya Temple in Nuwara Eliya.
In a spiritually significant gesture, sacred Buddha relics recently discovered in India will be sent to Sri Lanka for public exposition during the 2025 Vesak celebrations, further cementing the shared Buddhist heritage between the two nations.
A new defence MOU was also signed, with Foreign Secretary Misri stating: “Neither the land nor the surrounding oceans will be allowed to be used in any adverse manner.”
The agreement enhances joint exercises, maritime security cooperation, and defence industrial collaboration. Misri also announced an expanded training programme for 700 Sri Lankans annually across various sectors.
In a historic moment, Prime Minister Modi became the first Indian to receive Sri Lanka’s highest honour for foreign dignitaries, the Sri Lanka Mitra Vibhushana, recognising India’s unprecedented support during Sri Lanka’s economic crisis.
As the visit concludes with engagements including meetings with Opposition leaders and a trip to Anuradhapura to inaugurate railway projects, Misri reflected: “This visit reaffirms India’s steadfast support for Sri Lanka’s economic recovery and highlights our deep, interlinked destinies in terms of peace, prosperity, and regional security.”