Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh arrived in Sri Lanka yesterday (8) for a three-day official visit aimed at further strengthening defence cooperation and broader bilateral relations between the two countries.

Singh, who is scheduled to remain in Sri Lanka until tomorrow (10), is expected to hold bilateral talks with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and meet Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya, Defence Ministry Secretary Air Vice Marshal (Retired) Sampath Thuyacontha and other senior officials.

Foreign Affairs Minister Vijitha Herath confirmed that Sri Lanka and India are scheduled to sign three agreements on defence cooperation today (9) during Singh’s visit.

Speaking at the weekly Cabinet of Ministers media briefing yesterday, Herath said the agreements would cover cadet training and joint programmes, cooperation between the countries’ defence colleges, and the free maintenance of anti-aircraft weapons supplied by India to Sri Lanka.

The first agreement will establish cooperation between the Sri Lankan and Indian cadet forces, including mutual training and participation in joint programmes.

The second agreement will be signed between Sri Lanka’s National Defence College and India’s Defence Services Staff College. It will provide for knowledge-sharing, exchange programmes and the exchange of instructors between the two institutions.

The third agreement will cover the maintenance of 24 40mm L70 anti-aircraft guns previously provided to the Sri Lanka Air Force by India as defence assistance between 2000 and 2006.

Herath said India had already provided free maintenance for 18 of the weapons, while the new agreement would provide for the remaining six guns to be maintained free of charge.

He stressed that Singh’s visit was not limited to defence cooperation, but was also aimed at further strengthening the broader relationship between Sri Lanka and India.

According to Indian media reports, the visit is also expected to include a review of the implementation of the India-Sri Lanka defence cooperation agreement signed during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Sri Lanka in 2025.

Singh was scheduled to meet members of the Indian community in Sri Lanka yesterday and is expected to hold further engagements with the Sri Lankan leadership and senior Defence Ministry officials today.

Ahead of his departure for Sri Lanka, Singh said on X that he looked forward to “productive engagement” with the Sri Lankan leadership and to interacting with the Indian diaspora in the country.

“I shall also be interacting with the vibrant Indian diaspora in Sri Lanka,” he said.

Describing Sri Lanka as an important partner under India’s “Neighbourhood First” and “MAHASAGAR” initiatives, Singh also highlighted the two countries’ longstanding partnership and deep historical and civilisational ties.

The Indian Defence Ministry said Singh had departed for Sri Lanka leading a high-level delegation and would hold discussions with the Sri Lankan leadership on a range of issues aimed at further strengthening bilateral relations in mutually beneficial areas, including maritime and defence cooperation.

Meanwhile, the Colombo Traffic Division has implemented a special traffic plan in view of Singh’s visit, with restrictions to be imposed on several main roads in Colombo at various times as the Indian Defence Minister travels to different locations during his three-day stay.

Singh’s visit marks the first visit by an Indian Defence Minister to Sri Lanka in 38 years.