Sri Lanka and India signed three Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) on defence cooperation following a meeting between President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and visiting Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in Colombo.

The agreements cover cooperation between the National Cadet Corps of Sri Lanka and India, institutional ties between the National Defence College of Sri Lanka and India’s National Defence College in New Delhi, and maintenance support for air-defence systems operated by the Sri Lanka Air Force.

Under the air-defence agreement, India will provide maintenance assistance for the remaining six 40mm L70 air-defence guns operated by the Sri Lanka Air Force. India had supplied 24 such systems to Sri Lanka between 2000 and 2006 and has previously carried out maintenance work on 18 of them.

The agreements were signed as the two countries seek to further strengthen their longstanding defence and strategic partnership, with maritime security in the Indian Ocean region emerging as an important area of cooperation.

Following his meeting with President Dissanayake, Indian Defence Minister Singh described the discussions as “warm and extremely productive.” He said he conveyed greetings from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and extended congratulations to President Dissanayake on the successful completion of two years of his government.

Singh said India and Sri Lanka, which he described as “civilisational twins, close neighbours and maritime partners,” would continue to work together for the development of both countries and the welfare of their people.

He further said the two countries would work jointly to ensure the safety, security, peace and prosperity of the region.
The visit is significant as it marks the first official visit to Sri Lanka by an Indian Defence Minister in 38 years. The last such visit was made by Indian Defence Minister K.C. Pant in 1988.

Singh’s visit is expected to further deepen defence-to-defence relations between the two countries, particularly in areas such as military training, professional education, equipment maintenance and maritime security.

The latest agreements also build on the broader defence cooperation framework between Sri Lanka and India and underscore the importance both countries place on maintaining close security ties in the Indian Ocean region.

Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh arrived in Sri Lanka last afternoon on a three-day official visit.