Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday met Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in Colombo. During the meeting, both sides reiterated their commitment to working together for the development and well-being of India and Sri Lanka.

Rajnath Singh conveyed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s warm greetings to President Dissanayake. The two leaders also discussed ways to ensure security, safety, peace and prosperity in the region. Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Santosh Jha and other officials were present during the meeting.

In a post on X, Singh said he had a “warm and very productive” meeting with the Sri Lankan President. He conveyed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s greetings and congratulated Dissanayake on the successful completion of two years of his government.

Singh said India and Sri Lanka, as “civilisational twins, close neighbours and maritime partners”, reaffirmed their commitment to working together for the development of their countries and the well-being of their people. He also said both sides would work jointly to ensure the security, safety, peace and prosperity of the region.

On Tuesday, Singh interacted with the Indian community in Colombo and appreciated its role in strengthening relations between India and Sri Lanka.

Singh said the Indian diaspora plays an important role in strengthening friendship between the two countries and described the Indian community as a “bridge” between India and Sri Lanka. He also said India would always stand firmly with Sri Lanka whenever the island nation faces a crisis.

Rajnath Singh arrived in Colombo on Tuesday for a three-day official visit to Sri Lanka aimed at deepening bilateral defence and maritime cooperation. Before his departure for Colombo, Singh had said that he looked forward to productive discussions with the Sri Lankan leadership.

Sri Lanka’s Deputy Minister of Defence Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd.) and Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha warmly welcomed Singh at Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo.

According to the Ministry of Defence, Singh’s visit is aimed at further strengthening the traditionally strong and friendly bilateral relations between India and Sri Lanka in mutually beneficial areas, including a robust maritime and defence partnership.

The Ministry of Defence said India and Sri Lanka share deep civilisational ties and a multifaceted partnership covering regional security, defence, economic and trade cooperation, as well as strong people-to-people relations.

According to the ministry, bilateral ties received further impetus when India assisted Sri Lanka during its economic crisis and provided assistance as one of the first responders following Cyclone Ditwah in Sri Lanka in 2025.

The ministry said this highlights India’s continued commitment to the “Neighbourhood First” policy and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of MAHASAGAR, or Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions.