India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will undertake an official visit to Sri Lanka from September 8 to 10, with maritime security and defence cooperation expected to feature prominently in discussions with Sri Lankan leadership.

According to India’s Ministry of Defence, Singh will hold consultations with Sri Lankan leaders on a range of issues during the visit and will also interact with the Indian diaspora in Colombo.

He will lead a high-level delegation comprising senior officials from India’s Ministry of Defence and Ministry of External Affairs.

The visit is expected to provide fresh momentum to the two countries’ traditionally strong maritime and defence partnership, amid growing emphasis on regional security and cooperation in the Indian Ocean.

India’s Defence Ministry said the bilateral relationship encompasses regional security, defence, economic and trade cooperation, as well as strong people-to-people ties. It noted that India’s assistance to Sri Lanka during the country’s economic crisis and its role as one of the first responders following Cyclone Ditwah in 2025 had provided further impetus to bilateral ties.

Singh’s visit also reflects India’s continued commitment to its ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s MAHASAGAR — Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions vision.

The Defence Ministry said the visit would further strengthen bilateral relations in mutually beneficial areas, with maritime and defence cooperation forming a key pillar of the partnership.