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PM Modi, who is currently on a three-day visit to Sri Lanka, was received at the grand ceremonial venue by Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
PM Narendra Modi received a special ceremonial welcome at Independence Square, Colombo. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi received an unprecedented ceremonial welcome in Sri Lanka on Saturday at Colombo’s Independence Square. Sri Lanka accorded this honour to a visiting dignitary for the first time, making the gesture both historic and symbolic of the deepening ties between the two neighbours.
“A special welcome at Sri Lanka’s majestic Independence Square. PM Narendra Modi was welcomed by President Anura Disanayake with a ceremonial reception at the Independence Square in Colombo. Bilateral discussions to foster a partnership for a shared future & mutual prosperity of our people lie ahead, ” the MEA posted on X.
#WATCH | PM Narendra Modi received a ceremonial Guard of Honour in Colombo at the Independence Square.PM Modi is on a three-day visit to Sri Lanka, which began yesterday after he attended the BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok.
(Source – ANI/DD) pic.twitter.com/GZaBnwhQ1l
— ANI (@ANI) April 5, 2025
PM Modi, who is currently on a three-day visit to Sri Lanka, was received at the grand ceremonial venue by Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. The welcome marked the beginning of a visit focused on fostering regional collaboration and fast-tracking joint development projects.
Talks between PM Modi and President Dissanayake are expected to produce around ten key outcomes, including seven bilateral pacts.
A major highlight could be a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on defence cooperation, signalling a new chapter in India-Sri Lanka military relations. Two important documents related to India’s debt restructuring and currency swap assistance are also expected to be unveiled.
These steps build on India’s earlier support of $4.5 billion during Sri Lanka’s economic crisis, reaffirming New Delhi’s role as a key development partner in the island nation’s recovery.
Soon after his arrival on Friday, PM Modi was greeted at his hotel by members of the Indian diaspora and treated to a cultural performance, including a puppet show. The vibrant reception reflected the warmth and cultural bonds shared between the two countries.
During the visit, he will travel to Anuradhapura to inaugurate development initiatives supported by India. His last visit to the island nation was in 2019.
- Location :
Colombo, Sri Lanka
