Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met Sri Lankan Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya in Colombo on September 9, 2026, and discussed a range of issues related to India-Sri Lanka relations, according to a release from the Press Information Bureau of India.
Development cooperation was a key focus of the meeting. The two leaders reviewed progress in areas including education, information technology, infrastructure, innovation and research, as well as other fields of mutual interest.
Singh and Amarasuriya also discussed the centuries-old civilisational ties between India and Sri Lanka. They described people-to-people contacts as an important foundation for a lasting and strong relationship between the two countries.
Singh said India and Sri Lanka, as democratic countries with a shared heritage, should continue working together through a cooperative development approach to promote regional peace and prosperity and the welfare of their citizens. He also underlined the importance of capacity building as a key pillar of bilateral cooperation.
The Defence Minister expressed confidence that his visit would give fresh momentum to the historic and multifaceted partnership between India and Sri Lanka.
Singh also described Prime Minister Amarasuriya as an inspiration for women in Sri Lanka and India and as a symbol of women’s empowerment. He said India wanted to encourage more Sri Lankan women to benefit from Indian Council for Cultural Relations scholarships and other facilities provided by the Indian government, with the aim of increasing their participation in governance and leadership.