India’s Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs chaired by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, has adopted its draft report on “India-Sri Lanka Relations and the Way Ahead” following a detailed discussion.
Speaking to the media after the committee meeting, Tharoor said the discussion on the report lasted more than two hours and described it as a detailed and substantive assessment of India-Sri Lanka relations.
“The discussions took longer but there is a full agreement and that report has now been adopted,” Tharoor said.
According to the Indian Lok Sabha Secretariat, the committee considered three draft reports during Tuesday’s sitting. In addition to the India-Sri Lanka relations report, the agenda included a report on India’s role in global technology diplomacy, digital governance, outer space diplomacy, artificial intelligence and emerging innovations, as well as a report on action taken by the government on recommendations concerning the Indian Ministry of External Affairs’ demands for grants for 2026-27.
The report on India-Sri Lanka relations comes amid continued efforts by both countries to strengthen bilateral ties.
During a visit to Sri Lanka from September 8 to 10, Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh reaffirmed India’s commitment to supporting Sri Lanka and described the two countries as “civilisational twins.”
During his meeting with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on September 9, Singh said India would continue to stand “shoulder-to-shoulder” with Sri Lanka during difficult times, while highlighting the longstanding ties between the two countries.
Singh also referred to India’s response to Cyclone Ditwah, saying Indian and Sri Lankan authorities had worked together to save lives, restore connectivity and provide relief and medical assistance.
He said Sri Lanka remains central to India’s Neighbourhood First’ policy and its MAHASAGAR vision, while expressing India’s interest in further strengthening trade and investment ties.
The Indian Defence Minister also said New Delhi was keen to move forward with the Economic and Technical Cooperation Agreement (ETCA) and highlighted India’s development cooperation with Sri Lanka across several sectors.
The adopted parliamentary report is expected to provide recommendations and observations on the future direction of India-Sri Lanka relations.
– with Agencies inputs --
