PM Modi begins landmark Sri Lanka visit focusing on defense, development, and cultural diplomacy

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Sri Lanka on Friday, 4 April 2025, evening on a three-day state visit. Despite heavy rains in Colombo, hundreds of locals and members of the Indian expatriate community turned up to welcome PM Modi. Prime Minister Modi has arrived in Colombo directly from Bangkok on the invitation of Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

Prime Minister Modi was welcomed by Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath, Health Minister Nalinda Jayatissa, Labor Minister Anil Jayantha, Fisheries Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekhar, Women and Child Development Minister Saroja Savitri Paulraj and Science and Technology Minister Krishantha Abeysena at the Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo. Despite incessant rains in the capital, people were seen excited to get a glimpse of the Prime Minister outside the airport and hotel.

Prime Minister Modi started his visit to Sri Lanka after attending the Bay of Bengal Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Summit held in Bangkok. He will return to India on April 6. Soon after arriving in Colombo, the Prime Minister wrote on social media, "Happy to be in Colombo. Grateful to all the ministers and dignitaries who came to welcome me at the airport. Excited about the upcoming events in Sri Lanka."

India-Sri Lanka relations will get new momentum

According to the Sri Lankan government, President Disanayake's visit to India in December 2024 was the first foreign visit of his presidential tenure, which was considered important for bilateral relations. Now, after President Disanayake took office, Prime Minister Modi is the first foreign leader to visit Sri Lanka at his invitation.

During this visit of the Prime Minister, agreements are expected between the two countries in various fields such as defense cooperation, healthcare, energy connectivity, digitalization and multi-sectoral development assistance. PM Modi will hold detailed talks with the President of Sri Lanka and review the progress of the vision shared during the last visit to India.

Inauguration of development projects in Anuradhapura

Prime Minister Modi will also meet other political leaders of Sri Lanka and will visit Anuradhapura with President Dissanayake on Sunday, 6 April, where he will inaugurate development projects run with Indian financial assistance. The two leaders will also pay homage at the historic Jaya Sri Mahabodhi Temple complex. It is worth noting that Prime Minister Modi had also visited this holy place in 2015 and 2019.

Fishermen's issue will also be discussed

In their talks, the two leaders will also discuss sensitive issues related to Indian and Sri Lankan fishermen, including the early release and repatriation of Indian fishermen and their boats. The Government of India has made it clear that it gives priority to the safety and welfare of fishermen and has repeatedly urged Sri Lanka to look at this issue from a humanitarian perspective and in the context of livelihood.

This visit of Prime Minister Modi is considered to be another important step towards further strengthening mutual trust, cooperation and cultural partnership between India and Sri Lanka.