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My dear brothers and sisters from Sri Lanka,
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Namaskar, Ayubowan, Vanakkam!
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On the occasion of the 80th Independence Day of India, I extend warm greetings to all Indians in Sri Lanka and to the friendly people of Sri Lanka.
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On 15 August 1947, India emerged from colonial rule with a solemn pledge: to build a nation founded on democracy, equality and the participation of every citizen. We chose to place the power to shape our destiny in the hands of every Indian, irrespective of caste, gender, education or economic circumstances. Eight decades later, that democratic choice remains at the heart of India’s journey. We have built resilient institutions that have upheld and deepened our democratic values, while enabling a nation of extraordinary diversity to move forward together.
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India and Sri Lanka began their independent journeys at almost the same time. Over the decades, our relations have reflected not only our geographical proximity, but also our shared aspirations, common developmental challenges and our unwavering commitment to democracy.
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Looking back at the past year, I am delighted to note that India-Sri Lanka relations are at a historic high. Following the successful State visit of Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi to Sri Lanka in April 2025, the past year witnessed the visit of Hon’ble Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Dr. Harini Amarasuriya to India in October 2025; the visit of External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar to Sri Lanka, as Special Envoy of the Prime Minister of India, in December 2025 in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah; the visit of President of Sri Lanka H.E. Anura Kumara Disanayaka to India for the AI Impact Summit in February 2026; the visit of the Hon’ble Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka to India in March 2026; and the visit of Vice President of India, Shri C.P. Radhakrishnan, to Sri Lanka in April 2026. These were complemented by visits of several other Cabinet Ministers from Sri Lanka to India, as well as Governors and senior officials from India to Sri Lanka.
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This sustained engagement has translated into steady progress across a range of ongoing and new initiatives. From the proposed interconnection of our power grids and the Sampur Solar Power Project to cooperation on the development of Trincomalee as an energy hub, India and Sri Lanka are working together with renewed enthusiasm to strengthen energy security and create new opportunities for sustainable growth.
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There is also palpable enthusiasm among businesses in both countries to explore opportunities and invest in each other’s markets. India is now Sri Lanka’s largest trading partner, second-largest export destination, largest investment partner and largest source of foreign tourists. As we seek to further expand our economic relationship, we are also preparing to begin discussions on upgrading our Free Trade Agreement. The turnaround of Sri Lanka’s flagship Colombo Dockyard following its acquisition by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders of India, saving more than 3,000 jobs, is yet another testament to what we can achieve together.
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We are likewise expanding physical connectivity through more air and ferry routes, with discussions underway on the historic Rameshwaram-Talaimannar Ferry service. India’s enhanced capacity-building endeavour now covers more than 1,500 Sri Lankans every year, including Parliamentarians, local government officials, civil servants, judiciary members, bankers and professionals from a wide range of sectors such as health, gems & jewellery, fisheries & agriculture, media, power & energy, railways, and airports, among others.
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India places the people of Sri Lanka at the centre of all its engagements. This is why India stood shoulder to shoulder with Sri Lanka during the economic crisis of 2022, providing Credit Lines and essential supplies of food, fuel and fertilizers. We responded in the same spirit during the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah, acting as a neighbour should, unconditionally as a reliable and dependable partner. India was among the first responders, providing immediate assistance for rescue and relief operations, followed by comprehensive support for rehabilitation and reconstruction.
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India has extended a USD 450 million reconstruction package, which includes a substantial component of grant assistance. Reconstruction is progressing steadily under the package, with damaged bridges being restored through both modular Bailey bridges and permanent structures. We also restored the Northern Railway Line within 3 months, enabling train services to resume early. During the recent visit of the Foreign Secretary of India, both sides finalised the modalities for two Lines of Credit denominated in Indian Rupees, amounting to USD 350 million. These will be utilized for rehabilitation of railway lines in areas affected by Ditwah and for various other purposes. This will enable Sri Lanka to undertake reconstruction without drawing on its foreign exchange reserves, supporting the early recovery of its economy.
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These efforts are a natural expression of the enduring bonds between our two countries. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, during his visit to Sri Lanka last year, termed India and Sri Lanka “Civilisational Twins.” Our shared civilisational heritage lives on in our languages, religions, traditions, customs and ways of life. The profound and unique shared Buddhist heritage of the two countries is among the most important facets of this civilizational bond. The exposition of the sacred Devnimori Relics of Lord Buddha from Gujarat in Colombo in February 2026 saw more than a million devotees pay their respects to the sacred relics.
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As India enters its 80th year of Independence, our aspiration is not one of progress for India alone. As underlined by the ‘MAHASAGAR Vision’, we believe India’s growth must create greater opportunities for the Global South, particularly our neighbourhood, including our closest maritime neighbour, Sri Lanka.
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At the heart of this deepening partnership are our strong people-to-people ties. Taking forward our commitment to nurture our bonds with our diaspora in Sri Lanka, during the visit of the Vice President of India in April this year, India extended the eligibility for Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cards to sixth-generation Indian Origin Tamils (IOT) in Sri Lanka and simplified the conditions for obtaining the OCI cards.
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I seek your continued support and cooperation as we constantly endeavour to further strengthen this partnership based on trust, friendship and shared prosperity.
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Jai Hind. Jai India-Sri Lanka Maitri.
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Dhanyavad. Bohoma Stuti. Nandri.
