Context: India and Sri Lanka inked seven MoUs — including one on defence cooperation — during the Indian Prime Minister’s visit to Sri Lanka in April 2025. The Indian PM was honoured with Sri Lanka’s highest civilian award Mithra Vibhushana.
Key Highlights of the India–Sri Lanka Meeting
1. Defence Cooperation
A broad-based Defence Cooperation Pact was signed, providing a structured framework for enhanced military collaboration.
The agreement aims to formalize joint military exercises, training programs, and high-level exchanges.
Sri Lanka’s President reaffirmed that Sri Lankan territory would not be used against India’s security or regional stability.
Both nations agreed to strengthen cooperation through the Colombo Security Conclave, focusing on security in the Indian Ocean region.
2. Energy Cooperation
A key Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed to interconnect the electricity grids of the two countries, enabling cross-border power trade.
A tripartite MoU with the United Arab Emirates was announced to develop Trincomalee as a regional energy hub, including a multi-product energy pipeline.
The leaders virtually inaugurated the Sampur solar power project, marking progress in sustainable energy collaboration.
3. Economic Cooperation
India agreed to share its digital public infrastructure and solutions to support Sri Lanka’s digital transformation.
A support package of approximately 2.4 billion Sri Lankan rupees was announced to boost socio-economic development in Sri Lanka’s eastern provinces.
4. Cultural Cooperation
India will send sacred relics of the Buddha, discovered in 1960 in Gujarat, to Sri Lanka for public exposition during the Vesak festivities.
India also pledged support for:
Renovation of the Thirukoneswaram temple in Trincomalee,
Development of the sacred city within the Anuradhapura Mahabodhi temple complex, and
Construction at the Sita Eliya temple in Nuwara Eliya.
These initiatives underscore the deep spiritual and cultural connections between the two nations.