Key Agreements Signed and Major Announcements During PM Modi's Sri Lanka Visit

India and Sri Lanka signed seven significant agreements on Saturday across sectors including defence, energy, digital infrastructure, health, and trade, against the backdrop of growing Chinese influence in the Indian Ocean region. These agreements were finalized during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Sri Lanka—his first since Anura Kumara Dissanayake assumed office as President in September last year.

The defence pact is among seven key agreements signed by the two sides following wide-ranging talks between PM Modi and Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Saturday.(X/@narendramodi)

Arriving on Friday for a three-day visit, PM Modi engaged in wide-ranging discussions with President Dissanayake aimed at strengthening the special bilateral relationship. Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to advancing the shared vision of “Fostering Partnerships for a Shared Future.”

According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), PM Modi also reiterated India’s steadfast support for Sri Lanka’s economic recovery and growth.

Here is a list of agreements signed during Prime Minister Modi's visit:

1. Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Governments of India and Sri Lanka for the establishment of HVDC interconnection to facilitate power import/export.

2. MoU between India's Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and Sri Lanka's Ministry of Digital Economy to collaborate on sharing successful digital solutions for large-scale digital transformation.

3. MoU between the Governments of India, Sri Lanka, and the United Arab Emirates for joint efforts in developing Trincomalee as an energy hub.

4. MoU between the Governments of India and Sri Lanka to strengthen defense cooperation.

5. MoU for multi-sectoral grant assistance for the development of Sri Lanka's Eastern Province.

6. MoU between India's Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Sri Lanka's Ministry of Health and Mass Media to enhance cooperation in the fields of health and medicine.

7. MoU on pharmacopoeial cooperation between the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India) and the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (Government of Sri Lanka).

Projects

1. Inauguration of the enhanced Maho-Omanthai railway line track.

2. Commencement of the construction of the signalling system for the Maho-Anuradhapura railway line.

3. Virtual groundbreaking ceremony for the Sampur Solar Power Project.

4. Virtual inauguration of the temperature-controlled agricultural warehouse in Dambulla.

5. Virtual launch of the solar rooftop system supply for 5,000 religious institutions across Sri Lanka.

Announcements

1. A robust capacity-building program in India benefiting 700 Sri Lankans every year.

2. Grant support for the development of the Thirukoneswaram Temple in Trincomalee, Seetha Eliya Temple in Nuwara Eliya, and the Sacred City Complex project in Anuradhapura.

3. The exhibition of Lord Buddha's relics from Gujarat in Sri Lanka on International Vesak Day 2025.

4. The finalization of bilateral agreements for debt restructuring.

In a tweet, PM Modi expressed that these pivotal agreements will strengthen the India-Sri Lanka partnership.

"Key agreements have been signed between India and Sri Lanka which will add vigour to our friendship. Important projects were also inaugurated, which will benefit countless people of Sri Lanka. India will always support the people of Sri Lanka in their development trajectory," he said.

PM Modi's Visit to Sri Lanka

On Friday, Prime Minister Modi arrived in Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka, following his visit to Bangkok, where he participated in a Bimstec (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) summit.

During discussions with Dissanayake, PM Modi emphasized that Sri Lanka holds a "special place" in India's Neighbourhood First policy and Vision 'Mahasagar'.

In his comments, Dissanayake assured PM Modi that Sri Lanka would not permit its territory to be used in any way that could harm India's security interests.

"I am grateful to President Dissanayake for his sensitivity towards India's interests. We welcome the important agreements concluded in defence cooperation," the Prime Minister mentioned in his response.

PM Modi made history by becoming the first Indian leader to receive the Mitra Vibhushana award, Sri Lanka's highest honor for foreign leaders.

On Sunday, the Prime Minister will depart for Anuradhapura, where he will visit the Jaya Shri Mohabodhi Temple. He will also unveil a plaque on a platform and inaugurate a train service at the Anuradhapura railway station.

After completing his engagements in Sri Lanka, PM Modi will head to Tamil Nadu to inaugurate India's first vertical lift sea bridge in Rameswaram.

(This Article was originally published by MSN)