Rajnath Singh to visit Sri Lanka, focus on strengthening defence and maritime ties
New Delhi, Sep 6. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will undertake a three-day official visit to Sri Lanka from September 8 to 10 in a move aimed at further strengthening India’s longstanding strategic and security partnership with its southern neighbour.
During the visit, Singh will hold discussions with Sri Lankan leaders on a range of bilateral and regional issues and interact with members of the Indian diaspora in Colombo. He will be accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising senior officials from the Ministries of Defence and External Affairs.
India and Sri Lanka share longstanding civilisational links and maintain a broad-based partnership covering defence and regional security, trade and economic cooperation, as well as extensive people-to-people ties.
The bilateral relationship gained further momentum after India extended substantial assistance to Sri Lanka during its economic crisis. New Delhi also emerged as one of the first responders following Cyclone Ditwah in Sri Lanka in 2025, reinforcing India’s role as a key partner in the country’s times of need.
The Ministry of Defence said these efforts reflected India’s continued commitment to its Neighbourhood First Policy and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) vision.
Singh’s visit is expected to provide fresh momentum to bilateral cooperation, particularly in the areas of maritime security and defence. With Sri Lanka occupying a strategically important position in the Indian Ocean, closer defence engagement with Colombo is also significant for India’s wider efforts to promote regional security and stability.
The visit will provide an opportunity for the two sides to review existing defence cooperation and explore avenues for expanding mutually beneficial engagement, while reinforcing the traditionally close and friendly relations between the two countries.
