Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held a series of high-level meetings in Colombo on September 9, 2026, during his three-day official visit to Sri Lanka, with discussions focused on strengthening bilateral defence cooperation, maritime security and the wider strategic partnership between the two neighbouring countries.
Singh called on Sri Lankan President and Defence Minister Anura Kumara Dissanayake, with both sides reviewing the broad India-Sri Lanka partnership and reaffirming their commitment to regional peace, security and prosperity. The two leaders described India and Sri Lanka as close neighbours, maritime partners and civilisational twins, while emphasising the importance of their longstanding people-to-people and strategic ties. President Dissanayake also reiterated that Sri Lanka would not allow its territory to be used for activities that could be detrimental to India’s security interests.
During the meeting, Dissanayake expressed appreciation for India’s assistance to Sri Lanka following Cyclone Ditwah through Operation Sagar Bandhu, as well as New Delhi’s broader rehabilitation and reconstruction support. Singh said India’s assistance to Sri Lanka reflected its responsibility as a close friend and neighbour and reaffirmed that New Delhi would continue to support Colombo during difficult times.
The two countries also exchanged agreements aimed at strengthening practical defence cooperation. These included a memorandum of understanding covering the upgradation of six L70 air-defence guns of the Sri Lanka Air Force through an Indian government grant. The upgraded systems are expected to strengthen the protection of critical assets in Sri Lanka. Another agreement focuses on academic cooperation between the National Defence College of India and Sri Lanka, while an MoU between the National Cadet Corps of the two countries will formalise youth exchange activities.
Singh also held discussions with Sri Lankan Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya. Their meeting covered development cooperation and a range of areas of mutual interest, including education, information technology, infrastructure, innovation and research. Singh emphasised the importance of capacity building and said India and Sri Lanka should continue working towards a shared developmental vision for regional peace and prosperity.
Maritime security emerged as another major focus of Singh’s Colombo engagements. Addressing senior Sri Lankan defence officials and the commanders of the Army, Navy and Air Force at the Sri Lankan Ministry of Defence, Singh stressed that secure sea lanes, freedom of navigation, respect for international law and unhindered maritime trade are essential for the security and prosperity of the Indian Ocean Region.
Singh called for stronger India-Sri Lanka cooperation to address emerging maritime challenges before they develop into larger security threats. He highlighted existing cooperation in search and rescue operations, counter-narcotics, anti-piracy and efforts against human trafficking. He also pointed to the Colombo Security Conclave and the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre as important mechanisms for strengthening maritime safety and regional coordination.
The Defence Minister further proposed deeper cooperation in Maritime Domain Awareness, with the two countries potentially working towards an integrated system capable of providing real-time maritime information. Such cooperation could help address challenges including illegal fishing, suspicious vessel movements, narcotics trafficking, smuggling and other maritime security threats.
Singh also called for closer cooperation in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, suggesting that India and Sri Lanka explore a joint maritime HADR framework involving relevant agencies, disaster-management authorities and scientific organisations. The proposal reflects the growing importance of coordinated responses to natural disasters and other emergencies across the Indian Ocean.
During his visit, Singh was accorded a Guard of Honour at the Sri Lankan Ministry of Defence and also paid homage at the Indian Peace Keeping Force Memorial in Battaramulla. His visit marks the first official visit to Sri Lanka by an Indian Defence Minister in nearly four decades and comes as New Delhi and Colombo seek to give fresh momentum to their defence and maritime partnership.
The Colombo engagements underline India’s continued focus on Sri Lanka under its Neighbourhood First policy and the MAHASAGAR vision. With both countries facing common maritime challenges and sharing strategic interests in the Indian Ocean, the latest discussions are expected to provide further momentum to defence cooperation, maritime security, capacity building and regional stability.