Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Leaves for Sri Lanka, Eyes Stronger Defence and Maritime Ties

September 8, 2026

New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday departed for Sri Lanka on a three-day official visit aimed at strengthening India’s bilateral defence and maritime cooperation with the island nation.

During his visit, Singh is scheduled to hold talks with Sri Lankan leaders on a range of issues concerning bilateral relations, with a focus on defence, maritime security and other mutually beneficial areas. He is leading a high-level delegation comprising senior officials from the Ministries of Defence and External Affairs.

Rajnath Singh Seeks ‘Productive Engagement’

Before departing, Singh said he was looking forward to a “productive engagement” with the Sri Lankan leadership.

He described Sri Lanka as an important partner for India under the Neighbourhood First policy and the MAHASAGAR vision. Singh will also interact with the Indian diaspora in Colombo during his visit.

India and Sri Lanka share longstanding historical and civilisational ties, with cooperation spanning regional security, defence, trade, economic relations and people-to-people connections.

India-Sri Lanka Defence Cooperation in Focus

The visit comes amid continued efforts by the two countries to deepen defence and maritime security cooperation in the Indian Ocean region.

In August, Sri Lankan Navy Commander Vice-Admiral Damian Fernando visited India and held discussions with Chief of Defence Staff General N.S. Raja Subramani on bilateral defence cooperation, joint military training and regional security.

Fernando also met Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and Indian Navy chief Admiral Krishna Swaminathan. Discussions included strengthening maritime security cooperation and advancing initiatives under the Bilateral Defence Cooperation Plan.

India’s Support to Sri Lanka

India has also remained a key partner for Sri Lanka during times of crisis. New Delhi provided assistance during Sri Lanka’s economic crisis and responded to the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah in 2025.

India had announced a USD 450 million reconstruction package for Sri Lanka following the cyclone. The assistance covered road, railway and bridge connectivity, housing, health, education, agriculture and disaster preparedness.

Rajnath Singh’s latest visit is expected to further consolidate the India-Sri Lanka strategic partnership, particularly in defence and maritime security.