China in Check! PM Modi Concludes Sri Lanka Trip
Modi Wraps Sri Lanka Visit: ‘Deep Ties Reaffirmed,’ Departs with New Pacts
Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded a “very productive” Sri Lanka visit on Sunday, departing for India after a whirlwind tour that bolstered bilateral ties.
Arriving from a BIMSTEC summit in Thailand, Modi held extensive talks with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, witnessing the signing of seven pacts spanning defence, energy, and digitalisation. “A very productive State Visit to Sri Lanka concludes,” the Ministry of External Affairs posted on X.
The visit, marked by Sri Lanka conferring its highest civilian honor, the Mithra Vibhushana, on Modi, saw a landmark defence pact to institutionalise military cooperation—moving past the IPKF withdrawal 35 years ago. Modi stressed the interlinked security of both nations, while Dissanayake assured Sri Lanka’s soil wouldn’t be used against India’s interests.
Key agreements included developing Trincomalee as an energy hub with UAE involvement, power grid connectivity, and digital solution-sharing. India also committed to debt restructuring, with Modi noting it would bring immediate relief to Sri Lankans.
Modi and Dissanayake virtually launched the Sampur solar plant and other India-backed projects, while jointly inaugurating the Maho-Omanthai railway track upgrade in Anuradhapura. There, Modi also visited the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi temple, paying respects at the Buddhist shrine. In Colombo, he honored the IPKF Memorial and met Tamil leaders, reaffirming India’s push for equality and justice for the Tamil community, alongside urging provincial elections.
On X, Modi expressed gratitude to Dissanayake and Sri Lankans, noting, “Deeply grateful to President Dissanayake, the people and Government of Sri Lanka for the warmth extended during my visit. Be it in Colombo or Anuradhapura, this visit has reaffirmed the deep cultural, spiritual and civilisational ties between our two nations. It will surely add momentum to our bilateral relations.”
