Colombo, Sri Lanka — Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday reinforced New Delhi’s growing influence in Sri Lanka by inaugurating the construction of a joint solar power plant and overseeing the signing of key defense and energy agreements during a high-level visit to Colombo.
The visit marks a significant step in consolidating India’s position in the island nation, which has seen growing Chinese involvement in recent years. Sri Lanka’s location along one of the world’s busiest shipping routes gives it strategic importance in the Indian Ocean region—an area India considers vital to its national interests.
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During his visit, Modi met with Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. The two leaders jointly inaugurated, via video link, the groundbreaking of a 120-megawatt solar power plant funded by India. The project, a bilateral joint venture, symbolizes deepening cooperation in sustainable energy and infrastructure development.
The agreements signed span both energy collaboration and defense cooperation, signaling a shift toward greater strategic alignment between the two nations. While details of the defense deals remain under wraps, analysts view them as part of India’s broader push to counterbalance China’s influence in South Asia.
China has invested heavily in Sri Lanka over the past decade, funding large-scale infrastructure projects through billions of dollars in loans. However, Sri Lanka’s economic collapse in 2022 reshaped its geopolitical orientation, providing India an opportunity to step in with substantial financial aid and diplomatic support.
Still, Sri Lanka continues to rely on China for loan restructuring and long-term financial negotiations—making Colombo’s balancing act between the regional powers a delicate one.
Modi’s visit, however, is seen as a clear message: India is ready to play a leading role in Sri Lanka’s recovery and development, and to forge stronger ties grounded in mutual strategic interests.
Sri Lanka, grappling with a severe power crisis in 2022 due to unpaid oil and coal imports for its electricity plants, is now pushing to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels. Against this backdrop, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed new agreements on defense and security cooperation with Sri Lanka during a recent bilateral meeting.
Modi highlighted the joint commitment to enhance security in the Indian Ocean through the Colombo Security Conclave, a regional grouping that includes Bangladesh, Maldives, and Mauritius. “I am grateful to President Dissanayake for his sensitivity towards India’s interests,” Modi said. “We share interconnected and co-dependent security interests.”
Emphasizing India’s “Neighbourhood First Policy,” Modi underscored Sri Lanka’s special role and India’s support during its past struggles. “We have fulfilled our duties as a truly friendly neighbor,” he added, signaling deeper collaboration ahead.
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