Visiting Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Presidential Secretariat this morning (9), during his three-day official visit to Sri Lanka.

The meeting focused on further strengthening defence and security cooperation between India and Sri Lanka, with both sides reaffirming the importance of continued engagement and bilateral relations.

Singh arrived in Sri Lanka yesterday (8) and was received at Bandaranaike International Airport by Deputy Minister of Defence Maj. Gen. Aruna Jayasekara (Retd.) and Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Santosh Jha.

During his visit, Singh is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya, Defence Ministry Secretary Air Vice Marshal (Retd.) Sampath Thuyacontha and other senior officials.

The visit marks the first visit by an Indian Defence Minister to Sri Lanka in 38 years

India Reaffirms Support for Sri Lanka

Speaking at a community reception in Colombo yesterday, Singh assured Sri Lanka of India’s unwavering support, saying New Delhi would stand by Colombo with its full strength whenever the island nation faces a crisis.

Describing Sri Lanka as a “very close friend” of India, Singh emphasized the deep-rooted and civilisational ties between the two countries and the importance of maintaining strong relations with neighbouring countries.

“India considers Sri Lanka a very close friend. India understands this reality very well — that in life, everything can change, but neighbours can never change. Friends can change in life, but neighbours can never change,” he said.

Singh also said India’s longstanding tradition was to treat its neighbours as family members and expressed his happiness at meeting members of the Indian diaspora in Sri Lanka.