Prime Minister Narendra Modi is currently on a three-day visit to Sri Lanka, where he received a ceremonial welcome at Independence Square in Colombo from President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. PM Modi, who landed in Sri Lanka on Friday night, was greeted by several senior ministers at Bandaranaike Airport, expressing gratitude to them on social media. This visit marks a significant occasion as it is the first time Sri Lanka has extended such a ceremonial welcome to a dignitary, with Modi being the first foreign leader hosted by President Dissanayake.
During his visit, PM Modi is set to engage in both one-on-one and delegation-level talks with the Sri Lankan President, which are anticipated to yield at least ten agreements, including a defence cooperation agreement and enhanced cooperation in the energy sector. If finalized, the defence MoU will signify a positive shift in India-Sri Lanka relations following the historical withdrawal of Indian Peace Keeping Forces (IPKF) around 35 years ago.
This trip also comes during a critical time for Sri Lanka, which is showing signs of economic recovery after a severe crisis, a situation in which India had previously provided significant financial assistance. Following discussions, documents related to India’s support for Sri Lanka’s debt restructuring and currency swap are expected to be announced. Additionally, PM Modi will lay a wreath at the IPKF memorial.
