Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is scheduled to visit Sri Lanka on September 9 and 10 for high-level discussions aimed at strengthening defence cooperation between the two countries, with maritime security in the Indian Ocean expected to be a major focus.
During the two-day visit, Singh is expected to meet President and Defence Minister Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya, and Defence Ministry Secretary Air Vice Marshal (Retd.) Sampath Thuyacontha.
Talks will focus on reviewing the implementation of the India-Sri Lanka Defence Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Colombo on April 5, 2025.
The five-year MoU, the first comprehensive defence cooperation agreement between India and Sri Lanka, provides a framework for expanding military collaboration and addressing shared security challenges in the Indian Ocean.
The agreement includes provisions for joint military exercises, capacity building, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, increased naval port calls, and exploring opportunities for cooperation in the defence industry.
Signed as part of seven bilateral agreements during Modi’s April 2025 visit, the MoU also complements broader cooperation between the two countries in sectors including health, energy, mass media, connectivity, and debt restructuring.
Rajnath Singh’s visit is expected to further deepen military-to-military ties and enhance coordination on regional maritime security and other shared strategic interests in the Indian Ocean.
