‘Civilisational twins’: Rajnath Singh meets Sri Lankan president, steps up India’s defence ties with Colombo

NEW DELHI: Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday met Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in Colombo and discussed the multi-faceted partnership between the two countries, including cooperation to ensure the safety, security, peace and prosperity of the region.Singh arrived in Sri Lanka on Tuesday for a three-day visit. His visit is the first by an Indian defence minister to the island nation in 38 years.Singh conveyed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's greetings to Dissanayake and congratulated him on the completion of two years of his government. He also underlined the deep friendship between the people of India and Sri Lanka, based on their historical and civilisational links.“The two sides reaffirmed that as civilisational twins, close neighbours and maritime partners, India and Sri Lanka would continue to work together for their development and welfare of the people while working jointly to ensure the safety, security, peace and prosperity of the region,” the ministry of defence said.Singh described the meeting as “warm and extremely productive” in a post on X.Sri Lanka reiterates commitment to India's securityDissanayake recalled his interactions with Prime Minister Modi and reiterated that Sri Lanka would never allow its territory to be used for activities inimical to India's security interests, the ministry of defence said.The Sri Lankan president also expressed gratitude for India's relief assistance under Operation Sagar Bandhu during Cyclone Ditwah and the comprehensive rehabilitation package extended by New Delhi for reconstruction and rehabilitation.Singh said India considered assistance to Sri Lanka a responsibility rather than a favour.“As a closest friend and neighbour of Sri Lanka, India considered it not a favour, but a responsibility to assist as the first responder and would continue to do so in the future as well,” he said.Both leaders also virtually inaugurated three Bailey Bridges constructed by Indian defence forces.Defence cooperation gets fresh pushIndia and Sri Lanka exchanged memorandums of understanding on the upgradation of L70 guns for the Sri Lankan Air Force and cooperation between the National Cadet Corps (NCC) and National Defence Colleges (NDC) of both countries.The MoU on the upgradation of six L70 guns for the Sri Lankan Air Force falls under an Indian government grant. The Ministry of Defence said the upgraded air defence guns would strengthen the air defence architecture of critical assets in Sri Lanka.The guns had earlier been provided to the Sri Lanka Air Force by India.The academic cooperation agreement between the NDCs of India and Sri Lanka will facilitate knowledge sharing between the two institutions, the ministry said.The NCC cooperation agreement will formalise the NCC youth exchange programme between India and Sri Lanka. The programme provides an opportunity for NCC cadets from multiple countries to travel to New Delhi each year and participate in NCC events.Singh is leading a high-level delegation comprising senior officials from the ministries of defence and external affairs.Sri Lankan opposition backs stronger India tiesSingh's visit also included an interaction with the Indian diaspora in Colombo, where he said India would stand firmly with Sri Lanka during times of crisis.“The relationship between India and Sri Lanka is based on shared history, culture, and faith. We stand with Sri Lanka through thick and thin and are committed to the peace, prosperity, and development of both countries,” Singh said, according to news agency ANI.Sri Lanka's leader of opposition Sajith Premadasa also praised India's support for the island nation after meeting Singh, describing India as a “very close partner” and the bilateral relationship as “very special”.“My meeting with Rajnath Singh was very constructive, very progressive. We have a very strong relationship with India. It is a special relationship. We are very close partners,” Premadasa said.He highlighted India's role as a first responder during Sri Lanka's economic crisis, the Covid-19 pandemic and Cyclone Ditwah.“India has always been the first responder. And Prime Minister Modi has always walked the talk. India has been the first responder in supporting Sri Lanka during Ditwah, during times of bankruptcy, and during the Corona health hazard,” Premadasa said.Premadasa said Colombo wanted to further deepen ties with India while respecting the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of both countries.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.