Rajnath Singh arrives in Colombo to hold talks with Sri Lanka's top leadership

09/09/2026

COLOMBO, Sep 8: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh arrived in Sri Lanka on Tuesday on a three-day visit during which he will hold talks with the island nation's top leadership aimed at strengthening bilateral ties and expanding cooperation in defence and maritime security.
Ahead of his departure, Singh said he was looking forward to a productive engagement with the leadership of Sri Lanka during the visit.
"Besides our longstanding partnership as well as deep historical and civilisational ties, Sri Lanka is one of our most important partners under the Neighbourhood First and MAHASAGAR initiatives," Singh said in a post on X.
Singh was received at the Bandaranaike International Airport by Sri Lanka's Deputy Minister of Defence Maj Gen (Retd) Aruna Jayasekara and Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Santosh Jha.
He received a warm and traditional welcome from the Sri Lankan side, reflecting the close and enduring ties between India and Sri Lanka, India's defence ministry said.
According to the ministry, Singh is leading a high-level delegation comprising senior officials from the ministries of defence and external affairs.
He will hold talks with the leadership of Sri Lanka on a range of issues to further strengthen traditionally strong and friendly bilateral relations in mutually beneficial areas, including a strong maritime and defence partnership, it added.
During Singh's visit, India and Sri Lanka will sign three bilateral agreements, including one on air defence cooperation, Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath said on Tuesday.
Herath said Singh's visit would further strengthen bilateral relations beyond defence cooperation.
The other two agreements involve exchanges between the National Cadet Corps and National Defence Colleges of the two countries to facilitate joint training and instructor programmes, he said.
Herath said India supplied 24 40mm L70 air defence guns to the Sri Lanka Air Force between 2000 and 2006 and has carried out free maintenance of 18 of them in recent years.
Under the new agreement, India will provide free maintenance support for the remaining six L70 air defence guns, he added.
This is the first visit by an Indian Defence Minister to Sri Lanka in 38 years.
Addressing the Indian diaspora in Colombo in the evening, Singh said the relationship between India and Sri Lanka is based on shared history, culture, and faith.
"India and Sri Lanka are close friends. We stand with Sri Lanka through thick and thin and are committed to the peace, prosperity, and development of both countries," he said.
Coinciding with his visit, the Indian Navy's INS Udaygiri, an advanced indigenous stealth guided-missile frigate, arrived at the Colombo port on Tuesday.
The frigate was received in accordance with naval traditions, the Sri Lanka Navy said.
Sri Lanka Navy personnel will also visit the frigate for capability familiarisation, knowledge sharing and onboard training, it said.
The crew of INS Udaygiri will participate in goodwill events with the Sri Lanka Navy and visit tourist and cultural sites.

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