Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is scheduled to visit Sri Lanka on September 9 and 10 for talks focused on strengthening bilateral defence cooperation, with maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region expected to figure prominently during his visit.
According to sources in the Ministry of Defence, during the visit, Mr. Singh 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 discussions are expected to include a review of the full and timely implementation of the India-Sri Lanka Defence Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Colombo on April 5, 2025, it added.
The five-year agreement was the first-ever umbrella MoU on defence cooperation between the two countries and provides a structured framework for bilateral military engagement while addressing shared security concerns in the Indian Ocean.
The pact covers a range of areas, including enhancing joint military exercises, capacity building, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief cooperation, and increasing port calls by naval vessels of the two countries. It also provides for exploring opportunities for cooperation in the defence industry.
The agreement is valid for five years and allows either side to terminate it with three months’ prior notice. It can also be extended for a further three years by mutual agreement.
The defence MoU was among seven bilateral documents exchanged during Mr. Modi’s April 2025 visit, which marked his fourth visit to Sri Lanka since 2014 and the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the country after Mr. Dissanayake assumed office in September 2024.
The April 2025 visit also saw agreements and understandings covering areas such as health, mass media, energy and connectivity. India and Sri Lanka also concluded bilateral amendatory agreements on debt restructuring.
The upcoming visit by Mr. Singh assumes significance amid India’s emphasis on maritime security and closer defence partnerships with Indian Ocean littoral states.
It is expected to provide an opportunity to deepen military-to-military engagement and strengthen coordination between the two countries on shared regional security concerns.
Source: The Hindu
-Agencies
