Overview

• Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, marking his first foreign visit since assuming office in September.
• Dissanayake assured India that Sri Lankan territory would not be used for activities harmful to India's security, addressing concerns over Chinese surveillance vessels visiting Sri Lankan ports.
• India and Sri Lanka agreed to finalize a defence cooperation agreement, enhance intelligence sharing, and collaborate on maritime security and disaster response initiatives.
• Modi emphasized the importance of Sri Lanka addressing Tamil minority aspirations, including holding provincial council elections and implementing constitutional provisions for reconciliation.
• The two nations announced new connectivity projects, including a ferry service between Rameswaram and Talaimannar, and expanded economic cooperation in energy, trade, and infrastructure development.