India, Sri Lanka Ink 7 MoUs, Including Defence Deal, During PM Modi's Colombo Visit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake signed seven MoUs on Saturday, including the first defence cooepration deal. The historic pact was inked following talks between the two leaders.

PM Modi arrived in Sri Lanka on Friday on a three-day visit to improve bilateral ties and explore ways to bolster areas of energy, trade, connectivity, digitalisation, and defence. He was welcomed with a ceremonial guard of honour at the Independence Square in Colombo this morning.

The MoU signed on defence cooperation reflects a major upward trajectory in the relation between India and Sri Lanka, putting behind the bitter episode of India withdrawing from the Indian Peace Keeping Forum from the island nation around 35 years ago. 

The two sides also signed a deal to develop Trincomalee as an energy hub and another agreement to facilitate New Delhi's multi-sectoral grant assistance to Sri Lanka's eatern region. 

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The seven MoUs inked between India and Sri Lanka are:

  • MoU for Implementation of HVDC Interconnection for Import/Export of Power.

  • MoU in the Field of Sharing Successful Digital Solutions Implemented at Population Scale for Digital Transformation.

  • MoU for Cooperation in Development of Trincomalee as an Energy Hub.

  • MoU between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka on Defence Cooperation.
  • MoU on Multi-sectoral Grant Assistance for Eastern Province.

  • MoU on Cooperation in the Field of Health & Medicine.

  • MoU on Pharmacopoeial Cooperation between the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and The National Medicines Regulatory Authority.

PM Modi also virtually inaugurated the Sampur solar power project along with President Dissanayake, who is hosting a foreign leader for the first time since assuming office.

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