- Saturday, April 05, 2025
The defence pact comes nearly four decades after the Indian Peace Keeping Force’s intervention in the island nation
By: India Weekly
FOR the first time, India and Sri Lanka on Saturday (5) inked an ambitious defence cooperation pact with prime minister Narendra Modi outlining a broader roadmap for deeper bilateral cooperation, asserting that security of both nations is interlinked and dependent on each other.
The defence pact is among seven key agreements signed by the two sides following wide-ranging talks between Modi and Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
The defence pact, being seen as a major move to bolster strategic ties, came nearly four decades after the Indian Peace Keeping Force’s intervention in the island nation.
“We believe that our security interests are similar. The security of both countries is interlinked and dependent on each other,” Modi said in his media statement.
“I am grateful to president Dissanayake for his sensitivity towards India’s interests. We welcome the important agreements concluded in defence cooperation,” he said.
In his remarks, Dissanayake said he assured Modi that Sri Lanka will not allow its territory to be used in any manner inimical to India’s security interests.
He said he also conveyed to Modi that India’s assistance to Sri Lanka in times of need and continuing solidarity are deeply cherished.
Another important agreement that the two sides inked was on developing Trincomalee as an energy hub.
Modi and Dissanayake also virtually inaugurated the Sampur solar power project.
“The Sampur Solar Power Plant will help in Sri Lanka’s energy security. All the people of Sri Lanka will benefit from the agreements signed for building a multi-product pipeline and developing Trincomalee as an energy hub,” Modi said.
The grid inter-connectivity agreement between the two countries will open up options for Sri Lanka to export electricity, he said.
Modi said Sri Lanka has a “special place” in India’s Neighbourhood First policy and Vision ‘MAHASAGAR’.
“In the last four months, since President Dissanayake’s visit to India, our cooperation has progressed significantly,” he said.
The Modi-Dissanayake talks were held a day after the prime minister arrived in the Sri Lankan capital after concluding his trip to Bangkok where he attended a summit of the BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation).
‘Mitra Vibhushana’
Modi was on Saturday (5) conferred with the ‘Mithra Vibhushana’ award by Dissanayake in recognition of his role in boosting bilateral ties.
The award, the highest civilian honour of the island nation, was instituted in February 2008 by then president Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Its previous recipients include former Maldivian president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom and late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.
“It is an honour for me to be awarded the Sri Lanka Mithra Vibhushana. It is also an honour for 1.4 billion Indians,” Modi said in his remarks.
The award was bestowed on Modi by Dissanayake during a ceremony at the presidential secretariat in Colombo. (PTI)
