Prime Minister Narendra Modi was greeted with great enthusiasm by hundreds of local citizens and members of the Indian diaspora upon his arrival in Colombo on Saturday evening, despite persistent downpours. The visit comes at the invitation of Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and follows Modi’s participation in the BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok.
At Bandaranaike International Airport Colombo, a number of senior members of President Dissanayake's cabinet attended to receive the Indian Prime Minister. Among those present were Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath, Health Minister Nalinda Jayatissa, Labour Minister Anil Jayantha, Fisheries Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar, Women and Child Affairs Minister Saroja Savithri Paulraj, and Science and Technology Minister Chrishantha Abeysena. Crowds also gathered outside the airport and hotel in spite of the rain to see the Indian leader.
When he arrived, PM Modi tweeted on X: "Landed in Colombo. Thankful to the ministers and dignitaries who received me at the airport. Looking forward to the programmes in Sri Lanka."
This visit has been viewed as yet another turning point in India-Sri Lanka relations. President Dissanayake's foreign visit to India in December 2024, his first such visit as President of Sri Lanka, was celebrated by Colombo as a turning point in the two neighbours' relationship.
PM Modi is now the first foreign head of state to be received by Dissanayake as President, indicating the significance Sri Lanka places on its alliance with India.
"India-Sri Lanka relationship is strongly based on civilizational connections, common history, religion, culture, and extensive people-to-people relations. In the contemporary period, it has become a close economic, cultural, and technical cooperation," Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said before the visit. "Sri Lanka is part of our 'Neighbourhood First' and this relationship, which was founded on trust and goodwill, has been proven to be durable.
Misri further emphasized India's unwavering solidarity to Sri Lanka through its 2022 economic crisis. "India was pleased to be in a position to play an important role in the economic stabilization and rebound of the country thus showing its commitment as a reliable neighbor and as a first responder to any crisis in the region," he added.
In his visit, PM Modi will ink an enhanced bilateral defence cooperation deal. President Dissanayake and he will also evaluate progress on plans charted out under the Joint Vision for 'Fostering Partnerships for a Shared Future' that was laid out on the last visit to India by Dissanayake.
Apart from one-on-one interactions with the President, PM Modi will meet other top-level political leaders and witness the signing of a number of agreements. These will range across a variety of sectors, such as defence, health, energy interconnection, digitization, and grant-based development support.
On Sunday, the Prime Minister will travel to Anuradhapura, accompanied by President Dissanayake, where they will unveil development projects supported by India. They will also pay their respects at the sacred Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi temple complex — a location of deep cultural and spiritual import. Modi had already visited the same location in 2015 during his Sri Lanka visit and again in 2019.
One of the prominent items on the agenda for discussion in bilateral meetings will be the issue of Indian fishermen held in custody by Sri Lankan forces. Both sides will likely touch upon issues regarding the prompt release and repatriation of Indian fishermen and boats.
The Indian government continues to make the welfare and security of its fishermen a priority, repeatedly raising the issue through diplomatic and official means. This includes PM Modi himself raising it during his December 16, 2024 meeting with the President of Sri Lanka.
Foreign Secretary Misri said that the problem started with mid-1970s agreements on the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) between the two countries. India has persistently asked Sri Lanka to fulfill the problem as a humanity and livelihood concern, stressing that force must not be employed.
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