Sri Lanka and India have signed three Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) covering air-defence capability, military education and youth cooperation, further strengthening defence and strategic ties between the two countries.

The agreements were signed following talks between President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and visiting Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in Colombo, with maritime security and regional stability emerging as key areas of bilateral cooperation.

The three MoUs focus on the upgradation of six L70 air-defence guns operated by the Sri Lanka Air Force, academic cooperation between the National Defence Colleges of Sri Lanka and India, and cooperation between the National Cadet Corps of the two countries.

India to Upgrade Six Sri Lanka Air Force L70 Guns

Under the first MoU, India will provide a Government of India grant for the upgradation of six 40mm L70 air-defence guns operated by the Sri Lanka Air Force.

The upgraded systems are expected to significantly strengthen Sri Lanka's air-defence architecture, particularly the protection of critical assets.

The L70 guns were previously provided to the Sri Lanka Air Force by the Government of India. India supplied 24 of these air-defence systems to Sri Lanka between 2000 and 2006 and has previously undertaken maintenance work on 18 of them.

The latest agreement therefore extends India's support from maintenance to the modernisation and capability enhancement of the remaining six systems.

The assistance is also significant in the context of Sri Lanka's broader efforts to maintain and strengthen the operational capabilities of its armed forces while focusing on the protection of strategically important national assets.

Defence Colleges to Strengthen Academic Links

The second MoU establishes academic cooperation between India's National Defence College (NDC) in New Delhi and Sri Lanka's National Defence College.

The agreement will facilitate knowledge sharing between the two institutions and is expected to strengthen the longstanding academic and professional relationship between the two sister institutes.

Defence education has been an important component of India-Sri Lanka military engagement, with senior Sri Lankan officers and officials participating in India's National Defence College programme over several decades.

The closer institutional relationship is expected to provide further opportunities for professional interaction, exchange of expertise and discussions on national security and strategic affairs.

The cooperation also comes as India and Sri Lanka increasingly focus on common security concerns in the Indian Ocean, where developments in maritime security have implications for both countries.

India-Sri Lanka NCC Youth Exchange Programme Formalised

The third MoU covers cooperation between the National Cadet Corps of India and the National Cadet Corps of Sri Lanka.
The agreement will formalise the NCC youth exchange programme between the two countries.

The programme provides NCC cadets from Sri Lanka and other countries with opportunities to travel to New Delhi each year and participate in NCC events. It offers young participants opportunities for cultural interaction, knowledge sharing and exposure to different training and educational experiences.

Beyond its youth-development role, the agreement is expected to contribute to stronger people-to-people links between India and Sri Lanka and develop relationships among future generations.

Defence Cooperation Expands Beyond Military Engagement

The three MoUs demonstrate the increasingly broad nature of India-Sri Lanka defence cooperation.

While the upgradation of the L70 guns directly strengthens Sri Lanka's defence capability, the agreements on defence education and cadet exchanges extend cooperation into professional development, institutional engagement and youth relations.

The latest agreements also build on a broader defence cooperation framework between the two countries.

India and Sri Lanka signed an umbrella five-year defence cooperation MoU in April 2025, providing a structured framework for military engagement and cooperation on shared security concerns in the Indian Ocean.

The framework includes areas such as joint military exercises, capacity building, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief cooperation, increased naval port calls and opportunities for cooperation in the defence industry.

Maritime Security Remains a Key Priority

The strengthening of defence ties comes amid growing attention to maritime security in the Indian Ocean.

Sri Lanka's strategic location along major Indian Ocean shipping routes makes the country an important partner for India in maintaining maritime security and addressing shared regional security concerns.

Sri Lankan officials have previously stressed the close link between the security interests of the two countries, particularly in the Indian Ocean.

The latest discussions between Singh and Sri Lankan authorities are therefore expected to further develop cooperation in areas including maritime security, military training, professional education, equipment support and regional security.

Meanwhile, President Dissanayake recalled his interactions with PM Modi and reiterated that Sri Lanka would never allow its territory to be used for any activities inimical to India’s security interests. 

Rajnath Singh's Sri Lanka Visit

Following his meeting with President Dissanayake, Singh described the discussions as “warm and extremely productive.”

He said he conveyed the greetings of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and congratulated President Dissanayake on the successful completion of two years of his government.

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

He also said India and Sri Lanka would work jointly to ensure the safety, security, peace and prosperity of the region.

Singh's visit is particularly significant as it marks the first official visit to Sri Lanka by an Indian Defence Minister in 38 years. The previous such visit was made by Indian Defence Minister K.C. Pant in 1988.

A Broader Strategic Partnership

The latest defence agreements come against the backdrop of expanding India-Sri Lanka relations across defence, maritime security, connectivity, energy, investment and people-to-people ties.

The two countries have maintained close defence relations for decades, although their relationship has also passed through challenging periods, particularly during India's involvement in Sri Lanka during the late 1980s.

In recent years, however, defence cooperation has increasingly focused on training, capacity building, humanitarian assistance, maritime security and institutional engagement.

The three new MoUs add another layer to that relationship by combining defence capability enhancement with professional education and youth cooperation, according experts.

For Sri Lanka, the arrangements provide additional support for maintaining and upgrading existing defence assets while expanding opportunities for military education and international engagement.

For India, closer defence cooperation with Sri Lanka supports its broader objective of strengthening partnerships with Indian Ocean neighbours and promoting a secure and stable regional maritime environment.