Colombo:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was given a grand formal welcome to the historic freedom class at the center of the Sri Lankan capital on Saturday, perhaps in such honor given to a foreign leader.
The Prime Minister was obtained in the category by President Anura Kumara Disnayake.
PM Modi landed in Colombo yesterday evening after concluding his visit to Bangkok, where he attended the summit of Bimstec (Bay of Bengal initiative for multi-regional technical and economic cooperation).
Foreign Ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal said on ‘X’, “PM @narendramodiwas welcomed President @anuradisanayake with a formal reception at Independence Square in Colombo.”
He said, “Bilateral discussion to promote a partnership for a common future and mutual prosperity of our people, further lies,” he said.
Officials said this was the first time a foreign leader was welcomed in the freedom class.
Glimpses from formal reception in Colombo this morning.@anuradisanayake pic.twitter.com/88k2t1nnn20
– Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 5, 2025
PM Modi is now having delegation level talks with President Dissanayake.
Both sides are expected to come out with approximately 10 ambitious results, including a defense cooperation agreement and structures for deep engagement in the energy sector.
If signed, the MoU on defense cooperation is set to indicate a major upwards in the India-Sri Lanka defense, leaving behind the bitter chapter related to India, excluding the Indian Peace Cover Force (IPKF) from the Island nation 35 years ago.
The Prime Minister’s visit to Sri Lanka arrives when the island nation is showing symptoms of recovery from economic stress. The country was re -running under a massive economic crisis three years ago and India increased the financial assistance of USD at 4.5 billion.
After a conversation between PM Modi and President Dsnayake, two documents facilitated Sri Lanka to assist India on the restructuring of debt and one and one on the currency swap are likely to be made public.
Both sides are expected to seal a separate agreement on cooperation in digital domains.
PM Modi has also been prescribed to give a wreath in the IPKF (Indian Peace Keeping Force) Memorial in the day.
In an interview with PTI, the Indian High Commissioner of Colombo Santosh Jha said on Friday that the assistance of the island nation of New Delhi was “unprecedented” in terms of India’s assistance in any country of the world.
“It was a great assistance and we are continue to work with Sri Lanka in providing IT assistance in various fields and is very appreciated here,” said Mr. Jha.
In Colombo, PM Modi and President Dsnayake will also dedicate many projects that are being built in that country with the help of India.
The two leaders will also have a witness to the virtual groundbreaking of the Sampur Solar Energy Project.
(Except for the headline, the story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is published by a syndicated feed.)
