Defence Minister Singh to visit Sri Lanka for review of bilateral defence ties

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will visit Sri Lanka on September 2-3, 2023 to carry out a thorough review of bilateral defence ties with the island nation's top leadership. This is in keeping with the importance that India accords to Sri Lanka as part of its Neighbourhood First policy.

Announcing the visit on Friday (August 1, 2023), India's Ministry of Defence said Singh will hold talks with President & Defence Minister of Sri Lanka Ranil Wickremesinghe and Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena. "The entire gamut of India’s defence ties with Sri Lanka will be reviewed during the meetings," the ministry added.

Defence Minister Singh will also visit Nuwara Elia in Central Sri Lanka and Trincomalee which is located in the eastern part of the country.

This visit of Defence Minister Singh will reiterate India's continued commitment in furthering the existing warm and friendly relations with Sri Lanka. "It will be an important landmark in building the strong bonds of friendship between the two countries," the Ministry of Defence said. 

Earlier this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had pointed out that the security interests and development of India and Sri Lanka are intertwined, adding that it was necessary to work together keeping in mind each other's security interests and sensitivities.

“A stable, peaceful and prosperous Sri Lanka is not just in India’s interests, but is also in the interests of the entire Indian Ocean Region,” Prime Minister Modi said at a joint press conference with visiting Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe in New Delhi on July 21, 2023.

It is worth noting that maritime security has also been identified as a key pillar of the Colombo Security Conclave, which was formed in 2011 as a trilateral grouping of India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives. The roadmap of activities was later expanded, with Mauritius joining as the fourth member and Bangladesh & Seychelles participating as observer countries.