Sat Apr 05 07:34:37 UTC 2025: ## India and Sri Lanka Forge Historic Defence Pact, Boosting Bilateral Ties
**Colombo, Sri Lanka** – India and Sri Lanka have signed their first-ever defence cooperation agreement, marking a significant deepening of bilateral relations. The pact, along with several other key agreements, was finalized following talks between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
The landmark defence cooperation agreement signifies a new level of strategic partnership between the two nations. Further strengthening ties, India and Sri Lanka also signed agreements to develop Trincomalee as an energy hub and to provide multi-sectoral grant assistance to Sri Lanka’s eastern region. The leaders also jointly inaugurated the Sampur solar power project via video conference.
Prime Minister Modi received a ceremonial welcome at Colombo’s historic Independence Square, a rare honour for a foreign leader, underscoring the importance placed on this visit. The square, named after the Independence Memorial Hall commemorating Sri Lanka’s 1948 independence from Britain, provided a fitting backdrop for the strengthening of the two countries’ ties. This visit follows Prime Minister Modi’s attendance at the BIMSTEC summit in Bangkok. The multifaceted agreements signal a significant boost to the already growing economic and strategic partnership between India and Sri Lanka.
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