Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Wednesday assured India that Colombo would not allow its territory to be used for any activity that could threaten India’s security interests. The assurance came during his meeting with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in Colombo, as the two countries moved to strengthen their defence and maritime partnership.
Singh is on a three-day official visit to Sri Lanka, aimed at deepening defence cooperation and expanding coordination between the two neighbouring countries.
During the meeting, India and Sri Lanka exchanged three Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) covering defence equipment, academic cooperation and youth exchanges. One of the key agreements involves the upgradation of six L70 air-defence guns operated by the Sri Lankan Air Force. The guns had earlier been supplied to Sri Lanka by India, and their modernisation will be carried out under a Government of India grant.
The two countries also signed an MoU between the National Defence College (NDC) of India and the NDC of Sri Lanka. The agreement will encourage greater academic cooperation, knowledge sharing and closer institutional ties between the two defence education establishments.
Another MoU focuses on cooperation between the National Cadet Corps (NCC) of India and Sri Lanka. It will formalise the existing youth exchange programme, providing cadets with opportunities to participate in NCC activities and interact with counterparts from different countries.
The visit also highlighted India’s continuing assistance to Sri Lanka. Dissanayake thanked New Delhi for its support under Operation Sagar Bandhu following Cyclone Ditwah and for providing a comprehensive rehabilitation package to support reconstruction efforts across the island nation.
Singh and Dissanayake also virtually inaugurated three Bailey bridges constructed by the Indian military in Sri Lanka. The bridges are expected to support connectivity and reconstruction efforts.
India and Sri Lanka have traditionally maintained close relations, with maritime security being an important part of their partnership. New Delhi has also closely watched developments involving Chinese-backed infrastructure projects in Sri Lanka, particularly after the Hambantota port was leased to a Chinese company for 99 years in 2017.
Describing the relationship as one based on mutual trust, Singh said both countries had reaffirmed their commitment to working together for development, security, peace and prosperity in the region.
The latest agreements are expected to further strengthen defence ties and reinforce cooperation between the two maritime neighbours.
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