Colombo: Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on Friday evening, receiving a warm and ceremonial welcome despite heavy rains. Hundreds of local citizens and members of the Indian diaspora gathered outside the airport and hotel to greet the Indian leader.
Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath, Health Minister Nalinda Jayatissa, Fisheries Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekhar, and other key cabinet members welcomed PM Modi at Bandaranaike International Airport.
This visit comes at a time when Sri Lanka is slowly emerging from a severe economic crisis. Three years ago, India provided a financial assistance package worth $4.5 billion to support the island nation.
During the visit, PM Modi and Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake are expected to finalize up to seven major agreements in sectors such as defense, energy security, digital cooperation, and trade. One of the key outcomes could be a defense cooperation MoU, signaling a major strategic step in India-Sri Lanka relations.
On Saturday, PM Modi and President Dissanayake will visit the historic city of Anuradhapura, where they will offer prayers at the Mahabodhi Temple and jointly inaugurate two India-assisted development projects.
