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On Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was given an extraordinary ceremonial reception at Colombo’s historic Independence Square, marking a first for any foreign leader to be accorded such an honor in Sri Lanka. The welcoming ceremony was led by Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, as the two nations continue to build a stronger partnership.
PM Modi had arrived in Colombo the previous evening after concluding his visit to Bangkok, where he attended the BIMSTEC summit, which focuses on multi-sectoral technical and economic cooperation. The grand reception at Independence Square was highlighted by External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on ‘X,’ with the official stating, “PM @narendramodi was welcomed by President @anuradisanayake with a ceremonial reception at the Independence Square in Colombo.”
The ceremony was described as unprecedented, with no foreign leader having received such a welcome at this iconic location. Following the reception, PM Modi and President Dissanayake began delegation-level talks to discuss a future built on shared prosperity and mutual cooperation.
The talks are expected to yield around 10 significant outcomes, including a defense cooperation agreement and enhanced engagement in the energy sector. A potential Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on defense cooperation could mark a pivotal moment in India-Sri Lanka relations, signaling a renewed focus on defense collaboration. This development comes nearly 35 years after India withdrew its Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) from Sri Lanka.
PM Modi’s visit comes at a crucial time, as Sri Lanka is recovering from an economic crisis that severely impacted the nation three years ago. India has played a critical role in Sri Lanka’s recovery, offering financial aid of USD 4.5 billion during the country’s economic struggles.
Following the bilateral discussions, India and Sri Lanka are likely to release two important documents—one related to India’s assistance in Sri Lanka’s debt restructuring and the other on a currency swap arrangement. Additionally, a new cooperation pact in the digital domain is expected to be finalized.
PM Modi is also scheduled to lay a wreath at the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) memorial later in the day, in a gesture that acknowledges the historical ties between the two countries.
In an interview with PTI, India’s High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Santosh Jha, spoke about the unprecedented level of support India has extended to Sri Lanka. “India’s assistance to Sri Lanka is unmatched in terms of the scale and scope of support we’ve provided to any other country,” Jha stated. “This assistance continues across various sectors, and it’s greatly appreciated by the people of Sri Lanka.”
During his time in Colombo, PM Modi and President Dissanayake will also inaugurate several projects financed by India. One such initiative is the Sampur solar energy project, which the two leaders will jointly launch via a virtual groundbreaking ceremony.
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