Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will undertake an official visit to Sri Lanka from September 8 to 10, marking the first such visit by an Indian Defence Minister to the island nation in 38 years.
The last Indian Defence Minister to visit Sri Lanka was K.C. Pant, who travelled to the country in 1988 while serving in Rajiv Gandhi’s Cabinet.
The visit is being seen as a reflection of India’s continued emphasis on its Neighbourhood First policy and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of MAHASAGAR — Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions.
The two sides are also expected to review the full and timely implementation of the India-Sri Lanka Defence Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding signed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Colombo on April 5, 2025. Singh’s visit is expected to give fresh momentum to the growing India-Sri Lanka defence partnership. Discussions are likely to cover defence cooperation, including possible collaboration in air-defence systems, and a review of ongoing security engagements between the two countries. During the visit, the Defence Minister is expected to meet Sri Lankan President and Defence Minister Anura Kumara Dissanayake , Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya and Secretary to the Ministry of Defence Air Vice Marshal (Retd.) Sampath Thuyacontha. Mr.
Mr, according to sources in the Ministry of Defence. Singh is scheduled to visit Sri Lanka’s National Defence College and inaugurate an infrastructure project, sources said.
