Prime Minister Harini Meets Indian Defence Minister
11-Sep-2026.
Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya said that the continued support provided by the Indian Government to Sri Lanka during difficult periods faced by the country was highly appreciated. She also welcomed the assistance provided by India following the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah.
She said that strengthening institutional capacity between the two countries contributes towards promoting good governance. The Prime Minister made these remarks during a meeting with Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who is on a visit to Sri Lanka, met Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya at Parliament on 9 September 2026.
During the meeting, the Prime Minister expressed her appreciation for the continued support provided by the Indian Government to Sri Lanka during periods when the country faced difficult situations.
She particularly expressed her gratitude for the assistance provided by India following the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah. She also welcomed the launch of ‘Operation Sagar Bandhu’ by the Indian Government as part of its humanitarian and disaster relief assistance to Sri Lanka.
The Prime Minister pointed out that relations between Sri Lanka and India extend beyond diplomatic and economic cooperation. She noted that cultural, historical and religious ties are an important part of the long-standing friendship between the two countries.
The meeting also focused on India’s role as an important partner of Sri Lanka in a wide range of areas, including trade, development, defence and education.
The two countries are also maintaining cooperation in capacity-building sectors, including parliamentary and government institutions. The Prime Minister noted that such cooperation contributes to strengthening institutional capacity and promoting good governance.
Referring to the long-standing cooperation between Sri Lanka and India in the defence sector, the Prime Minister stressed the importance of continuing and further strengthening this partnership. It is also significant that several Memoranda of Understanding between the two countries were signed during the Indian Defence Minister’s visit.
The Prime Minister stressed the importance of expanding regional cooperation, particularly in the tourism and education sectors. She pointed out that there are opportunities for greater cooperation between Sri Lankan and Indian universities, including through specialised educational institutions and programmes such as Indian Institutes of Technology, in order to strengthen knowledge sharing, innovation and skills development.
