Rajnath to visit Sri Lanka to expand bilateral defence ties
India and Sri Lanka will review the entire gamut of their bilateral defence ties and explore ways to expand them during Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s three-day visit there starting September 8.
Giving details about his schedule, the defence ministry said in New Delhi on Sunday that Rajnath Singh will hold consultations with the leadership of Sri Lanka on a range of issues and interact with the Indian diaspora in Colombo. He will lead a high-level delegation comprising senior officials from the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of External Affairs.
India and Sri Lanka share deep civilisational ties and a multifaceted partnership, anchored by regional security, defence, economic and trade cooperation and strong people-to-people ties.
The bilateral relationship received further impetus when India assisted Sri Lanka during the economic crisis and provided assistance, as one of the first responders, in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah in Sri Lanka in 2025. It underscored India’s continued commitment and emphasis on the ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions). The defence minister’s visit will further strengthen the traditionally strong and friendly bilateral relations in mutually beneficial areas, including a strong maritime and defence partnership, the ministry said.
