Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday (September 9, 2026) pledged India’s continued support to Sri Lanka during a meeting with Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in Colombo, as the two countries inked three Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) on defence equipment and training.
Mr.
Singh’s visit, the first by an Indian Defence Minister to Sri Lanka in nearly 40 years, and the agreements come over a year after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Sri Lanka in 2025, when seven MoUs, including an overarching defence sector agreement, were signed.
The MoUs signed on Wednesday pertain to the upgradation of L70 Guns for the Sri Lankan Air Force, and cooperation between the National Cadet Corps and the National Defence Colleges of the two countries.
During President Dissanayake’s meeting with Mr.
Singh, the two sides held “extensive discussions on further strengthening the existing defence, economic, maritime and regional partnerships between India and Sri Lanka, as well as the historical ties between the two countries, in a mutually beneficial manner”, the Presidential Media Unit said in a statement.
Further, Mr.
Dissanayake briefed the Indian Defence Minister on Sri Lanka’s recently-launched islandwide programme to combat drug trafficking.
The President conveyed to Mr.
Singh that “Sri Lanka expects India’s fullest support in its efforts to combat the illicit drugs menace”.
Why Colombo could be India’s next global capability hub An official release from the Indian government said the President recalled his interactions with Mr.
Modi and reiterated that “Sri Lanka would never allow its territory to be used for any activities inimical to India’s security interests”.
President Dissanayake’s office said he emphasised that Sri Lanka makes decisions “taking into consideration both national and regional interests, and that, as a sovereign State, Sri Lanka enters into various agreements with countries around the world while remaining mindful of regional security. ”The statement from his office added that the leaders paid “special attention” to the fisheries issue.
“Discussions focused on securing India’s support to safeguard the principal livelihood of Sri Lankan fishermen,” it said, referring to northern Sri Lankan fishermen’s long-standing demand that their Indian counterparts stop using the destructive bottom trawling method of fishing in the island’s territorial waters in the Palk Strait.
President Dissanayake expressed gratitude for India’s relief assistance — New Delhi pledged a $450 million reconstruction package — as part of ‘Operation Sagar Bandhu’ to help the island recover from the devastating impact of Cyclone Ditwah in late 2025, according to the readout from the Indian side.
Dissanayake and Mr.
Singh virtually inaugurated three Bailey bridges constructed by the Indian defence forces to help restore connectivity in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah in Kurunegala and Batticaloa districts.
Singh emphasised that “as a close friend and neighbour of Sri Lanka”, India considered it “not a favour, but a responsibility” to help Sri Lanka as the first responder, while pledging future support.
India and Sri Lanka: Neighbours as Friends Following his arrival on Tuesday, Mr.
Singh met the Indian diaspora in Colombo.
He outlined India’s performance on trade, economy, defence and infrastructure under Mr.
Modi’s leadership as Prime Minister.
Coinciding with the Defence Minister’s visit, the Indian Navy’s indigenously built multi-role stealth frigate INS Udaygiri arrived at the Colombo port on Tuesday for a three-day Operational Turnaround (OTR).
