Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to visit Sri Lanka in early April, with April 5 being a tentative date, according to Sri Lankan sources. The visit will focus on strengthening economic and connectivity ties between the two nations.
The invitation was extended by Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake during his visit to New Delhi in December 2024—his first foreign trip since assuming office in September 2024. During that visit, India announced the conversion of $20 million in payments for seven completed Line of Credit projects into grants, easing Sri Lanka’s debt burden. This is in addition to India’s $4 billion assistance during Sri Lanka’s 2022 economic crisis.
President Dissanayake reassured India that Sri Lankan territory would not be used in ways that could harm Indian interests, addressing concerns over growing Chinese influence in the region.
PM Modi has visited Sri Lanka multiple times before, including in 2015, 2017, and 2019. His 2015 visit marked a major diplomatic step, including engagements in Jaffna. In 2017, he was the chief guest at Sri Lanka’s first-ever International Vesak Day celebration. In 2019, he made a solidarity visit following the Easter terror attacks.
Key areas of discussion for the upcoming visit include a new ferry route between Rameshwaram and Talaimanner, a proposed multi-product petroleum pipeline between Nagapattinam and Trincomalee, and the expansion of digital payment infrastructure, particularly India’s UPI system, which was introduced in Sri Lanka in February 2024.
Modi’s visit underscores India’s commitment to deepening bilateral ties and supporting Sri Lanka’s economic recovery.
