Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed heartfelt gratitude to Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the government, and the people of Sri Lanka after being conferred the prestigious ‘Sri Lanka Mitra Vibhushana’, the country’s highest award for a foreign head of state.
In a post on X, PM Modi stated: “It is a matter of immense pride for me to be conferred the ‘Sri Lanka Mitra Vibhushana’ by President Dissanayake today. This honour is not mine alone — it is a tribute to the 1.4 billion people of India. It symbolises the deep-rooted friendship and historic ties between the people of India and Sri Lanka.”
The honour, introduced in 2008, is reserved for heads of state or government who have shown extraordinary friendship towards Sri Lanka. President Dissanayake, during a joint press briefing, said: “Honourable Prime Minister Modi highly deserves this honour. It reflects our appreciation of the strong ties and support India has always shown.”
Alongside the ceremonial recognition, both leaders engaged in significant bilateral activities. They jointly e-inaugurated High Impact Community Development Projects, including:
- A 5,000 MT temperature-controlled warehouse in Dambulla to boost agriculture
- 5,000 rooftop solar units for religious places across all 25 districts of Sri Lanka
- The virtual ground-breaking of the 120 MW Sampur Solar Project
These initiatives reflect India’s continued commitment to Sri Lanka’s development and sustainability.
Speaking during their joint statement, PM Modi emphasized Sri Lanka’s strategic importance to India: “Sri Lanka holds a special place in both our Neighbourhood First policy and Vision ‘Mahasagar’. In the past six months, we have converted loans worth over $100 million into grants. We’ve also decided to lower interest rates under our debt restructuring agreement — a sign that India continues to stand firmly with Sri Lanka.”
The two leaders also addressed regional and humanitarian issues, particularly concerning fishermen’s livelihoods. PM Modi shared that both sides agreed to approach the matter with compassion: “We stressed the immediate release of fishermen and return of their boats. India-Sri Lanka ties are built on mutual trust and goodwill.”
Highlighting shared security concerns, Modi noted, “Our security interests are aligned — they are interdependent and interconnected.”
He also announced the soon-to-be-completed construction of 10,000 houses for the Indian-origin Tamil community in Sri Lanka. Moreover, 700 Sri Lankan professionals — including MPs, judges, entrepreneurs, media personnel, and youth leaders — will undergo training in India.
President Dissanayake previously made India his first official foreign visit. In a symbolic gesture of reciprocity, PM Modi is now the first foreign leader to be officially welcomed in Sri Lanka since the President took office. A historic ceremonial welcome at Independence Square marked the occasion — the first time a visiting leader has received such an honour.
PM Modi’s state visit to Sri Lanka, which runs from April 4 to 6, follows his participation in the BIMSTEC Summit in Thailand, where he engaged with leaders from across the region.
Despite the rain, PM Modi was warmly received at the Colombo airport by six senior Sri Lankan ministers. His visit marks a significant step forward in deepening India-Sri Lanka relations across cultural, economic, and strategic dimensions.
