Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to Sri Lanka early next month to reinforce India’s strategic partnership with the island nation. The visit, confirmed by Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath during a parliamentary debate, is expected to finalize agreements made during President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s trip to New Delhi last year.
Speaking in Parliament, Herath emphasized Sri Lanka’s strong diplomatic ties with India, noting that the government’s first high-level foreign visit was to New Delhi, where both nations laid the groundwork for expanded bilateral cooperation. “Prime Minister Modi will be visiting Sri Lanka in early April. Our first diplomatic visit was to India, where we reached several agreements on bilateral cooperation,” he said.
One of the major highlights of PM Modi’s visit will be the formal launch of the Sampur solar power project in Trincomalee, a key renewable energy initiative backed by the Ceylon Electricity Board and India’s NTPC. The 135 MW solar plant is part of a broader push for energy security in Sri Lanka, underscoring India’s role in supporting the island’s transition to sustainable power sources.
Beyond energy collaboration, PM Modi’s visit will also see the signing of new Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) covering various sectors, further strengthening economic and trade ties. Discussions are also expected to touch upon key regional issues, including cybersecurity challenges and the longstanding fisheries dispute in the Palk Straits.
PM Modi’s visit will mark his fourth official trip to Sri Lanka and comes in the wake of President Dissanayake’s first foreign visit to India last year. During their discussions, the two leaders focused on regional security, energy cooperation, and the long-standing fisheries dispute in the Palk Straits.
