Rajnath Singh to visit Sri Lanka for defence talks

Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is scheduled to visit Sri Lanka on September 9 and 10 to discuss strengthening bilateral defence cooperation. The visit is expected to focus heavily on maritime security and coast guard collaboration within the Indian Ocean region.

During the trip, Singh is expected to meet with Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya, and Ministry of Defence Secretary Sampath Thuyacontha. A primary objective of the discussions will be reviewing the implementation of the India-Sri Lanka Defence Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in April 2025.

This five-year umbrella agreement provides a framework for joint military exercises, capacity building, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, and increased naval port calls. The talks also aim to explore potential cooperation in the defence industry and enhance intelligence-sharing frameworks.