Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Meets President Dissanayake

Visiting Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Presidential Secretariat this morning (09), during his three-day official visit to Sri Lanka.

The meeting focused on further strengthening the longstanding defence and security cooperation between India and Sri Lanka, with both sides reaffirming the importance of continued engagement and strong bilateral relations.

Singh arrived in Sri Lanka yesterday afternoon and was received at Bandaranaike International Airport by Deputy Minister of Defence Maj. Gen. Aruna Jayasekara (Retd.) and Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Santosh Jha.

The Indian Defence Minister is scheduled to remain in Sri Lanka until September 10. During his visit, he is expected to meet Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, Defence Ministry Secretary Air Vice Marshal (Retd.) Sampath Thuyacontha, and other senior officials.

According to Indian media reports, the visit is also expected to include a review of the implementation of the India-Sri Lanka defence cooperation agreement signed during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Sri Lanka last year.

The visit marks the first visit by an Indian Defence Minister to Sri Lanka in 38 years.

Meanwhile, the Colombo Traffic Division has introduced a special traffic plan for the duration of Singh’s visit. Traffic restrictions will be imposed on several main roads in Colombo at various times as he travels to different locations.

India Reaffirms Support for Sri Lanka

Speaking at a community reception in Colombo yesterday, Singh assured Sri Lanka of India’s unwavering support, saying New Delhi would stand by Colombo with its full strength whenever the island nation faces a crisis.

Describing Sri Lanka as a “very close friend” of India, Singh emphasized the deep-rooted and civilisational ties between the two countries and the importance of maintaining strong relations with neighbouring countries.

“India considers Sri Lanka a very close friend. India understands this reality very well — that in life, everything can change, but neighbours can never change. Friends can change in life, but neighbours can never change,” he said.

Singh also said India’s longstanding tradition was to treat its neighbours as family members and expressed his happiness at meeting members of the Indian diaspora in Sri Lanka.