Rajnath Singh Meets Sri Lankan President, Discusses Regional Security Cooperation
India and Sri Lanka reaffirm cooperation for regional peace and security.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in Colombo on Wednesday, with both sides reaffirming their commitment to working together for the welfare and development of India and Sri Lanka. The discussions focused on strengthening cooperation and ensuring safety, security, peace and prosperity in the region. India's High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Santosh Jha and other officials were also present during the meeting.
During the meeting, Singh conveyed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's warm greetings to Dissanayake and congratulated him on the completion of two years of his government. The discussions also covered the close relationship between the two neighbouring countries and the importance of continued cooperation in areas linked to regional stability. Singh described India and Sri Lanka as civilisational twins, close neighbours and maritime partners.
Singh highlighted the importance of the relationship between the two countries in a post on X, noting that India and Sri Lanka would continue working together for the development of their nations and the welfare of their people. He also emphasised joint efforts to promote regional safety, security, peace and prosperity, underlining the strategic importance of cooperation between the two maritime neighbours.
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The Defence Minister arrived in Colombo on Tuesday for a three-day official visit focused on deepening bilateral defence and maritime cooperation. Before departing for Sri Lanka, Singh indicated that he looked forward to productive engagements with the country's leadership. Sri Lankan Deputy Minister of Defence Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd.) and Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha welcomed him at Bandaranaike International Airport.
On Tuesday, Singh also interacted with members of the Indian community in Colombo and highlighted the role of the diaspora in strengthening ties between the two countries. He described the Indian community as a bridge between India and Sri Lanka and reaffirmed India's continued support for Sri Lanka during times of crisis. The interaction underscored the importance of people-to-people links in the broader bilateral relationship.
The Ministry of Defence noted that Singh's visit is aimed at further strengthening traditionally close India-Sri Lanka relations, particularly in mutually beneficial areas such as defence and maritime cooperation. The ministry also highlighted the countries' deep civilisational ties and broader partnership spanning regional security, defence, economic and trade cooperation. India's assistance to Sri Lanka during its economic crisis and its response following Cyclone Ditwah in 2025 were cited as examples of New Delhi's continued commitment to its Neighbourhood First policy and the MAHASAGAR vision.
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