Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid a highly successful visit to Sri Lanka from April 4–6, following his participation in the BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok. This visit marked a significant diplomatic moment, as he became the first foreign leader to be received by newly elected President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. It is noteworthy that President Dissanayake made his first overseas visit to India, signalling the Sri Lankan Government’s intent to prioritise its relationship with New Delhi, despite a legacy of anti-Indian political sentiment in his party.
Interestingly, President Dissanayake did not attend the BIMSTEC Summit, where Sri Lanka was instead represented by Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya. This further underscores the importance his Government attached to welcoming Modi personally in Colombo.
Four significant aspects of Prime Minister Modi’s visit highlight the deepening Indo-Lanka engagement:
First is the comfort and civilisational connection. There was a clear sense of mutual comfort and goodwill between the Indian and Sri Lankan leadership. The body language of both Modi and Dissanayake was warm and engaging. Civil society, Government representatives, and the broader Sri Lankan public appeared to receive Modi with enthusiasm and respect.
This camaraderie was reinforced through powerful cultural and civilisational gestures. Modi’s concluding visit to the sacred Mahabodhi Temple in Anuradhapura and his interaction with the Mahanayakes (senior Buddhist clergy) symbolised India’s enduring historical and spiritual ties with Sri Lanka. These moments were emblematic of India’s ancient Buddhist engagement with the island nation.
Tangible areas
Second, the visit focused on tangible areas of cooperation, particularly renewable energy and healthcare. India launched a 120-megawatt solar power station in Sri Lanka and pledged to donate 5,000 solar sets to religious institutions across the country. This is part of a broader effort to promote clean energy and reduce dependency on fossil fuels. A grid connectivity to India could allow Sri Lanka to export power to India in the years ahead.
India’s contribution to Sri Lanka’s emergency health infrastructure has also been significant. India provided a free ambulance service to Sri Lanka, known as “Suwaseriya”, which was initiated in 2016 with 297 ambulances and later increased to 322. New Delhi’s most popular project in Sri Lanka, the ambulance network has attended to about 8.2 million calls and 1.9 million medical emergencies in eight years. A World Bank report called it one of the world’s most digitally advanced and free ambulance services; initially launched in two provinces, it was expanded islandwide due to its success. This demonstrates India’s focus on impactful, grassroots-level projects that enhance the well-being of Sri Lankan citizens.
Human resource development was another major pillar of the visit. India reiterated its commitment to building capacity in Sri Lankan institutions through 700 training, scholarships, and technical assistance opportunities, further strengthening institutional ties.
Third, there is a growing level of trust and comfort in addressing sensitive strategic issues. President Dissanayake, during his December visit to India and again now, affirmed that Sri Lanka would not allow its territory—land or maritime—to be used against Indian interests. This assurance carries great significance in a region marked by geopolitical competition.
A key fourth outcome of the visit was the signing of a comprehensive Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Defence Cooperation. This umbrella agreement consolidates various existing defence-related understandings into a coherent framework, enabling structured dialogue and joint action in the future.
The success of this initiative lies in the meticulous preparation by both sides. Some commentators point out that civilisational ties between the two nations have always been robust. However, what is new is the blend of historical engagement with present-day strategic and economic realities.
India’s swift and decisive support during Sri Lanka’s 2022 economic crisis—providing over US$ 4 billion in aid—has fundamentally reshaped Colombo’s perception of New Delhi as a reliable partner.
Despite positive momentum, Sri Lanka faces daunting economic challenges. It must begin repayment on its US$ 3 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout from 2028. Complicating matters further, the US under the Trump administration imposed a 44 percent tariff on Sri Lankan exports—the highest in South Asia. This move threatens to cripple Sri Lanka’s Garment industry, which accounts for 40 percent of its exports to the US and employs around 300,000 people. While this is not a bilateral issue between India and Sri Lanka, it will affect how attractive Sri Lanka remains as a destination for export-oriented Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).
Another long-standing issue addressed during the visit was the Trincomalee oil farm project. These oil storage facilities were first offered to India in 1987 under the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord but have remained under-utilised. The current visit was a renewed commitment to develop Trincomalee as an energy hub through a trilateral partnership with the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
This approach is promising; the inclusion of a third-party country with strong energy credentials, such as the UAE, may provide the financial and technical muscle to make the project viable. So far, only a Government-to-Government MoU has been signed. Once business-to-business details are finalised, the project is expected to include the UAE in discussions.
India’s earlier attempt at a trilateral infrastructure partnership involving Japan in the Colombo Port development had been derailed due to alleged Chinese interference. However, the UAE’s inclusion in the current arrangement might face less resistance, especially given that the UAE, such as India and China, is now a BRICS partner.
Indo-Lankan bond
Prime Minister Modi’s visit was timely, successful, and symbolic of a stronger Indo-Lankan bond. India is engaging Sri Lanka comprehensively—through cultural diplomacy, economic assistance, and strategic dialogue—positioning itself as Colombo’s preferred partner in the Indo-Pacific region.
While contentious issues such as the fate of detained fishermen or the long-pending Provincial Council elections remain unresolved, they are being handled with tact and mutual understanding. As President Dissanayake gains political confidence, and as India’s credibility continues to rise in Colombo, the strategic balance in the region is being recalibrated. India has shown it is ready to be a stable, long-term partner—and Sri Lanka appears more receptive than ever.
The author is a former Indian Ambassador to Germany, Indonesia, Ethiopia, ASEAN and the African Union. He tweets @AmbGurjitSingh.
