On April 5, 2025, India and Sri Lanka signed their first-ever defense cooperation agreement, marking a major step toward deepening their bilateral relationship.
The deal was finalized in Colombo during discussions between Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In light of China’s expanding influence in the Indian Ocean region, this historic agreement is anticipated to strengthen defense cooperation between the two countries and usher in a new era in their relationship.
Along with the defense pact, the two sides also inked agreements to help India’s multi-sectoral grant assistance to Sri Lanka’s eastern region and to develop Trincomalee as an energy hub. Modi and Dissanayake further demonstrated their dedication to energy cooperation by virtually launching the Sampur solar power project.
Modi’s trip to Bangkok for the BIMSTEC summit was followed by the discussions in Colombo. A rare honor for a foreign leader, Modi received a ceremonial welcome at Independence Square in Colombo upon his arrival in Sri Lanka. This gesture emphasized the historical significance of the location, which honors Sri Lanka’s 1948 independence from British rule, as well as the significance of India-Sri Lanka relations.
