Rajnath Singh’s Sri Lanka Visit to Strengthen Defence, Maritime Ties

New Delhi, September 06, 2026 Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will undertake a three-day official visit to Sri Lanka from September 8 to 10, with discussions on bilateral issues and a focus on strengthening defence and maritime cooperation between the two countries. Singh will lead a high-level delegation comprising senior officials from the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). During the visit, he will hold talks with Sri Lanka’s leadership and interact with members of the Indian diaspora in Colombo. India and Sri Lanka share deep civilisational ties and a multifaceted partnership spanning regional security, defence, economic and trade cooperation, and people-to-people relations. Bilateral ties gained further momentum after India provided significant assistance to Sri Lanka during its economic crisis and was among the first responders following Cyclone Ditwah in 2025. India’s support reflects its continued commitment to the ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions). The Ministry of Defence said Singh’s visit will further strengthen the traditionally strong and friendly bilateral relationship, with emphasis on mutually beneficial areas, including a stronger maritime and defence partnership.