Rajnath Singh set for 3-day Sri Lanka visit, first by an Indian Defence Minister in 38 years

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.

Mr. Singh will hold consultations with Sri Lanka’s top leadership on a range of bilateral, regional and defence-related issues, and also interact with members of the Indian diaspora in Colombo.

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.

According to sources in the Ministry of Defence, Mr. 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.

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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.

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.

Mr. Singh is scheduled to visit Sri Lanka’s National Defence College and inaugurate an infrastructure project, sources said.

India and Sri Lanka share deep civilisational links and a multifaceted partnership encompassing regional security, defence, economic and trade cooperation, and strong people-to-people ties. The relationship received further impetus through India’s assistance to Sri Lanka during its economic crisis and humanitarian support following Cyclone Ditwah in 2025.

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.

With the Indian Ocean emerging as an increasingly important arena of strategic competition, maritime security and defence cooperation are expected to remain key elements of the discussions.

Mr. Singh’s visit is expected to further strengthen the traditionally close and friendly India-Sri Lanka relationship and deepen cooperation in mutually beneficial areas, particularly maritime security and defence partnership.