- PM Modi arrives in Colombo to a warm welcome
- Historic ceremonial reception at Independence Square
- India and Sri Lanka sign key defence and energy agreements
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on Friday evening to a warm welcome. He was greeted at the Bandaranaike International Airport by five top Sri Lankan ministers, including the Foreign Minister, Health Minister, and Fisheries Minister.
On Saturday morning, PM Modi received a special ceremonial welcome at Independence Square, where he was met by Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
This welcome was reportedly a first for a visiting dignitary in Sri Lanka, making it a historic moment and a sign of the growing relationship between India and Sri Lanka. PM Modi tweeted on X (Formerly Twitter) and thanked the officials who received him, stating, “Landed in Colombo. Grateful to the ministers and dignitaries who welcomed me at the airport. Looking forward to the programmes in Sri Lanka.”
India and Sri Lanka were set to announce around 10 significant agreements during PM Modi’s visit to Sri Lanka, including key partnerships in defence, energy security, and digitalisation, a news agency PTI report said.
Major Deals Signed
India and Sri Lanka signed an important defence cooperation agreement on Saturday for the first time. This was a result of talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
The two leaders also agreed to develop Trincomalee as an energy hub. In addition, they virtually launched the Sampur solar power project. PM Modi, who had just completed a two-day visit to Thailand, was warmly welcomed by a group of Indian-origin people at his hotel, the Taj Samudra, where he will stay during his three-day trip to Sri Lanka.
This is the first time President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has hosted a foreign leader in his role as president. PM Modi last visited Sri Lanka in 2019. PM Modi and President Dissanayake held both private and group talks, which were expected to result in at least 10 important agreements.
These include the defence cooperation agreement and stronger cooperation in the energy sector. The signing of the defence cooperation agreement is seen as a major step in improving India-Sri Lanka relations. It marks a new phase in their defence ties, especially after the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) withdrew from Sri Lanka over 30 years ago.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was awarded the Sri Lanka Mitra Vibhushana, the highest civilian honour of Sri Lanka, during his official visit on Saturday. He arrived in Colombo on Friday. This is PM Modi’s fourth visit to Sri Lanka as the Prime Minister of India.
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