Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, currently on a three‑day visit to Sri Lanka, held a bilateral meeting with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in Colombo.

In a post shared on X, Singh described the engagement as highly productive. He conveyed greetings from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and congratulated the Sri Lankan President on completing two years in office.

He emphasised that India and Sri Lanka, as civilizational twins, close neighbours, and maritime partners, have reaffirmed their commitment to work together for the development of both nations and the well‑being of their people. He added that both sides had resolved to cooperate for the security, safety, peace, and prosperity of the wider region.

This meeting marked a significant diplomatic milestone, as Singh became the first Indian Defence Minister to visit Sri Lanka for official defence‑level discussions in nearly forty years, following KC Pant’s ministerial visit in 1988.

Before arriving in Colombo, Singh had shared a message on X highlighting Sri Lanka’s importance under India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ and ‘MAHASAGAR’ initiatives. He noted that beyond longstanding partnerships, the two countries share deep historical and civilisational ties.

Singh began his itinerary by engaging with the Indian diaspora in Colombo. He assured the community that India and Sri Lanka share the bond of close friends and reiterated that India would always stand firmly with Sri Lanka during any crisis.

He underlined that the relationship between the two nations is rooted in shared history, culture, and faith. He expressed that India remains committed to peace, prosperity, and development for both countries, and that cultural and civilisational connections provide a strong foundation for expanding bilateral relations. He also remarked that he experienced a sense of belonging upon arriving in Sri Lanka.

Addressing the gathering, Singh highlighted India’s rapid economic transformation. He pointed out that India is among the fastest‑developing major economies globally, contributing over 16 per cent to worldwide economic growth.

He provided specific economic metrics, noting that India’s national economy had grown from ₹1,66,00,000 crores ($2 trillion) in 2014 to approximately ₹3,32,00,000 crores ($4 trillion) over the past decade. He stressed that this momentum was sustained despite global challenges, with India recording a growth rate of 7.8 per cent in the first quarter of the financial year 2026‑27.

Singh also highlighted improved macroeconomic stability. He explained that average inflation over the past twelve years had remained steady at around 4.7 per cent, a significant improvement compared to the earlier range of 10 to 11 per cent.

He detailed India’s expanding trade and international economic engagement, noting that New Delhi had finalised trade agreements with 38 nations in the past twelve years. This included free trade accords with eight major countries, compared to only four before 2014.

Singh described the India‑European Union pact as the ‘Mother of all deals’. He explained that the agreement opened access to the vast European market and demonstrated India’s growing diplomatic and economic influence.

ANI