Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached Sri Lanka from Thailand’s Bangkok on April 4 after attending the BIMSTEC Summit here. PM Modi is visiting Sri Lanka from April 4 to 6 at the invitation of Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Disanayaka. During his State visit, PM Modi will discuss progress made on the areas of cooperation agreed upon in the Joint Vision for “Fostering Partnerships for a Shared Future” adopted during the Sri Lankan President’s State Visit to India, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
PM Narendra Modi tweets, "Landed in Colombo. Grateful to the ministers and dignitaries who welcomed me at the airport. Looking forward to the programmes in Sri Lanka." pic.twitter.com/xHom2DrNIp
— ANI (@ANI) April 4, 2025
In special welcome, despite the rain, 5 top ministers received him at the airport at 9pm in the night. The following ministers welcomed PM at the airport:
- Vijitha Herath, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism of Sri Lanka
- Dr Nalinda Jayatissa, Minister of Health and Mass Media and Chief Government Whip
- Dr Anil Jayantha, Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development
- Ramalingam Chandrasekar, Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources
- Saroja Savithri Paulraj, Minister of Women and Child Affairs
- Dr Chrishantha Abeysena, Minister of Science and Technology
PM @narendramodi lands in Colombo for a 2-day State Visit to Sri Lanka.
PM was warmly received by FM @HMVijithaHerath, Minister of Health & Mass Media @NalindaJay, Minister of Labour Dr. Anil Jayantha, Minister of Fisheries Mr. Ramalingam Chandrasekar, Minister of Women & Child… pic.twitter.com/J0oYeOAGit
— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) April 4, 2025
The Prime Minister will also meet with senior dignitaries and political leaders. As part of the visit, he will travel to Anuradhapura to inaugurate development projects implemented with Indian financial assistance.
PM Modi’s last visit to Sri Lanka was in 2019. Earlier, Sri Lanka’s President paid a State Visit to India as his first visit abroad after assuming office. MEA noted that PM Modi’s visit to Thailand, Sri Lanka and his participation at the BIMSTEC Summit will reaffirm India’s commitment to its ‘Neighbourhood First’ and ‘Act East’ policy.
The PM had last visited Sri Lanka in 2019 to express solidarity after Easter Sunday attacks. Since 2014, the PM has been to the island nation thrice.
India has continued to reinforce its role as one of Sri Lanka’s most significant economic partners, with bilateral trade, investment, and development cooperation reaching new heights in the fiscal year 2024-25. The latest data underscores India’s sustained commitment to bolstering Sri Lanka’s economic recovery and long-term growth through multifaceted engagement.
Between April and November 2024, the trade volume between the two nations stood at an impressive $3.67 billion, with Indian exports to Sri Lanka contributing a major share of $2.84 billion. This places India firmly among Sri Lanka’s top trading partners, sustaining a strong economic relationship built on historical ties and regional proximity.
Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) from India has also seen a consistent flow, amounting to $80.55 million in the first nine months of 2024. Cumulatively, Indian FDI in Sri Lanka has reached $2.25 billion up to 2023, with $198.1 million invested in 2023 alone. The sectors attracting Indian investment include energy, hospitality, real estate, manufacturing, telecommunications, banking, and financial services — reflecting a diverse and robust bilateral economic relationship.
India’s support to Sri Lanka also extends to development finance. New Delhi has provided over $7 billion in credit assistance and approximately $780 million in grants. A key infrastructure initiative under this cooperation is the development of the Kankesanthurai port, where India has extended a grant of $61.5 million to enhance connectivity and economic activity in Sri Lanka’s Northern Province.
Tourism continues to be a vibrant bridge between the two nations. India emerged as the leading source of tourists to Sri Lanka in 2024, with approximately 4.16 lakh Indian nationals visiting the island, accounting for about 20 per cent of the total international tourist arrivals. This surge in tourism underscores the cultural and people-to-people linkages that further reinforce bilateral ties.
With these developments, India has reiterated its commitment to supporting Sri Lanka’s economic stability and growth.
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