PM Modi receives ceremonial welcome in Sri Lanka, several major deals expected

Modi was received by Sri Lanka's President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Independence Square.

Five top Sri Lankan ministers including Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath welcomed the Indian Prime Minister at the Bandaranaike International Airport on Friday evening.

The Prime Minister wrote on X, "Landed in Colombo. Grateful to the ministers and dignitaries who welcomed me at the airport. Looking forward to the programmes in Sri Lanka."

Modi is scheduled to hold a discussion with Dissanayake kickstaring a new era of bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

The two nations are expected to seal 10 important deals in various sectors including defence, energy security and digitisation.

If an agreement on defence cooperation is signed, it will usher in a new chapter in India-Sri Lanka's relation leaving behind the bitter past when New Delhi pulled out of the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) from Colombo more than three decades ago.

Apart from dedicating several projects in Sri Lanka with India's assistance, Modi and Dissanayake will pay their respects at the Mahabodhi temple in Anuradhapura.

Modi is the first foreign leader whom Dissanayake is hosting as the country's President.

Modi reached Sri Lanka after concluding a two-day tour to Thailand where he attended the BIMSTEC Summit.