Colombo, April 5, 2025 — Prime Minister Narendra Modi was accorded a grand ceremonial welcome at Sri Lanka’s historic Independence Square on Saturday — the first time any foreign leader has received such an honour at the iconic venue. Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake personally welcomed Modi, marking a new high in bilateral ties.
Modi arrived in Colombo on Friday evening after attending the BIMSTEC summit in Bangkok. The ceremonial reception was followed by high-level delegation talks between the two leaders.
India and Sri Lanka are expected to unveil nearly 10 major agreements, with a landmark defence cooperation pact likely to be among them. If signed, the MoU will mark a reset in military ties, decades after the withdrawal of the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) from the island nation.
Officials hinted at new frameworks for energy sector engagement and digital collaboration. India will also support Sri Lanka’s ongoing economic recovery, with documents on debt restructuring and currency swaps expected to be announced.
Modi is also scheduled to lay a wreath at the IPKF memorial in Colombo, acknowledging a complex chapter in the two countries’ shared history.
India has provided over $4.5 billion in financial aid to Sri Lanka during its recent economic crisis, which High Commissioner Santosh Jha called “unprecedented” in scale. “This support has been deeply appreciated,” he told PTI.
Later in the day, Modi and Dissanayake will dedicate several joint India-funded projects and witness the virtual groundbreaking of the Sampur solar energy initiative, part of the broader effort to boost sustainable development in the region.
