Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who arrived in Sri Lanka last night (April 4) for a three-day state visit, shared a message in both Sinhala and Tamil on his official X (formerly Twitter) account.
His post read:
“I have arrived in Colombo. I express my gratitude to the ministers and dignitaries who received me at the airport. I look forward to the programs in Sri Lanka.”
Prime Minister Modi landed at Katunayake International Airport, where he was welcomed by Ministers Vijitha Herath and Nalinda Jayatissa. Other dignitaries present included Ministers Saroja Savitri Paulraj, Krishantha Abeysena, and Anil Jayantha, according to the President’s Media Division.
This marks Prime Minister Modi’s fourth visit to Sri Lanka, and comes at the invitation of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. His arrival follows his participation in the BIMSTEC Summit held in Thailand.
The official welcoming ceremony is scheduled to take place today (April 5) at Independence Square in Colombo.
During his visit, Prime Minister Modi is expected to engage in bilateral talks with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and participate in a high-level meeting between representatives from both nations.
The President’s Media Division further announced that several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) and bilateral agreements will be signed during the visit. These include agreements on energy, digital transformation, security, health, and debt restructuring between Sri Lanka and India.
Prime Minister Modi will also inaugurate, via video link, a number of key development projects backed by Indian assistance, including:
- The Sampur Solar Power Plant Project
- The Dambulla Agricultural Storage Complex
- A solar panel installation project for 5,000 religious institutions across Sri Lanka
Additionally, Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to pay homage to the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi in Anuradhapura and formally open the Mahawa-Anuradhapura railway signaling system and the modernized Mahawa-Omantha railway line, both established through Indian aid.
Meanwhile, special traffic regulations and heightened security arrangements have been put in place today across key areas in the country to ensure the smooth conduct of the Indian leader’s visit.
Joining the Prime Minister on this diplomatic mission are Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, and a high-level delegation of senior Indian government officials.
