India's Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to Lead Three-Day Visit to Sri Lanka

From Tuesday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will embark on a three-day official mission to Sri Lanka, accompanied by senior officials from the defence and external affairs ministries. The agenda includes high-level talks with Sri Lankan leadership on maritime security, defence collaboration and broader bilateral ties, as well as outreach to the Indian diaspora in Colombo. It is the first Indian defence ministerial visit to the island since K C Pant's 1988 trip, and follows a 2005 visit by Pranab Mukherjee that was limited to a state funeral. The trip underscores India's "Neighbourhood First" approach and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's MAHASAGAR vision, building on recent Indian assistance during Sri Lanka's economic crisis and the 2025 Cyclone Ditwah relief effort.