Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit Sri Lanka on April 5, a date confirmed by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake during a parliamentary address on Friday, as reported by Adaderana.lk.

The announcement underscores the strengthening ties between the two nations, with Modi’s visit aimed at cementing agreements forged during Dissanayake’s trip to Delhi in 2024.

Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath had earlier hinted at the visit, noting it would finalize key bilateral pacts. A highlight of the trip, Dissanayake revealed, will be the groundbreaking of the Sampur Power Plant in Trincomalee, a flagship project symbolizing Indo-Sri Lankan collaboration. “Modi’s visit reflects Sri Lanka’s stability,” the president told Parliament, tying the event to the nation’s improving economic and political climate.

The Sampur initiative marks a pivot from past plans. Originally slated as a coal power plant by India’s National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), it has been reimagined as a solar facility.

Health Minister Nalinda Jayathissa recently detailed the agreement: a joint venture between the Ceylon Electricity Board and NTPC will develop solar plants with capacities of 50 MW in stage one and 70 MW in stage two. “This is a government-to-government effort focused on sustainable energy,” Jayathissa emphasized.

Modi’s visit, his first to Sri Lanka in this term, builds on last month’s solar power deal, signaling India’s commitment to supporting Sri Lanka’s energy transition. As both nations prepare for April 5, the event promises to deepen their partnership, blending economic cooperation with environmental goals.