India-Sri Lanka defence cooperation takes a giant leap with first-ever pact

Prime Minister Modi arrived here on Friday on a three-day visit to Sri Lanka to enhance bilateral relations and find means to enhance the sectors of energy, trade, connectivity, digitisation and defence. The MoU on defence cooperation is an indication of the spurt in relations between India and Sri Lanka, leaving behind the acrid experience of India's withdrawal from the Indian peacekeeping forum of the island nation almost 35 years ago.

India and Sri Lanka also sealed the first defense agreement

Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to Sri Lanka on Friday for a three-day visit. Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on the margins of the G20 Summit in New Delhi. In addition to this, India and Sri Lanka also sealed the first defense agreement. The landmark agreement was inked following negotiations between the two leaders.

PM's three-day visit to Sri Lanka to enhance bilateral relations

Welcome with Guard of Honour Prime Minister Modi arrived today on a three-day visit to Sri Lanka to enhance bilateral relations and discuss measures to enhance the sectors of energy, trade, connectivity, digitisation and defence. He received a ceremonial guard of honour at Independence Square in Colombo today.

Ties between India and Sri Lanka

The MoU signed on defence cooperation reflects the spurt in ties between India and Sri Lanka, putting behind the bitter event of India's withdrawal from the Indian peacekeeping forum from the island nation nearly 35 years ago. The two sides also signed an agreement to develop Trincomalee as an energy hub and another agreement to facilitate New Delhi's multi-sectoral grant assistance to the eastern region of Sri Lanka.

Following are seven agreements

• MoU for installation of HVDC Interconnection for Import/Export of Power.
• MoU in the area of sharing successful digital solutions adopted at population level for digital transformation.
• MoU for cooperation in the development of Trincomalee as an energy hub.
• Memorandum of Understanding on Defence Cooperation between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.
• MoU on Multi-sectoral Grants-in-Aid for Eastern Provinces.
• MoU on Health and Medicine Cooperation.
• MoU on Pharmacopoeia Cooperation between the Pharmacopoeia Commission of India, Ministry of Health and
• Family Welfare and the National Drug Regulatory Authority. 

MoU on Pharmacopoeia Cooperation between the Pharmacopoeia Commission of India, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the National Drug Regulatory Authority. Prime Minister Modi, along with President Dissanayake, also virtually inaugurated the Sampur Solar Power Project, which is hosting a foreign leader for the first time after assuming office.