PM Modi Meets Sri Lankan President Dissanayake in Colombo, Receives Historic Welcome

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo today, shortly after receiving an unprecedented ceremonial welcome at Independence Square — the first such honor extended to a foreign leader by Sri Lanka.

The meeting marks a significant milestone in Prime Minister Modi’s three-day official visit, which aims to deepen India-Sri Lanka relations under the shared vision of “Fostering Partnerships for a Shared Future.”

President Dissanayake personally led the grand welcome ceremony, underscoring the importance Colombo attaches to its ties with New Delhi. This visit is PM Modi’s first to Sri Lanka since 2019 and comes amid growing regional collaboration on development, infrastructure, and cultural exchange.

PM Modi arrived in Colombo following his participation in the BIMSTEC Summit in Thailand, where he also held bilateral discussions with Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra.

Upon arrival at Colombo’s Bandaranaike International Airport, the Indian Prime Minister was warmly received by six senior Sri Lankan ministers, despite inclement weather. Welcoming him were Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath, Health Minister Nalinda Jayatissa, Labour Minister Anil Jayantha, Fisheries Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar, Women and Child Affairs Minister Saroja Savithri Paulraj, and Science and Technology Minister Chrishantha Abeysena.

“Landed in Colombo. Grateful to the ministers and dignitaries who welcomed me at the airport. Looking forward to the programs in Sri Lanka,” PM Modi posted on X (formerly Twitter).

Following his arrival at the hotel, the Prime Minister engaged with members of the Indian diaspora and attended a traditional Sri Lankan puppet performance, celebrating the strong cultural bonds between the two nations.

As part of his visit, PM Modi is scheduled to travel to the sacred city of Anuradhapura, where he will inaugurate several development projects funded by the Government of India.

Meanwhile, Vyasa Kalyanasundaram, head of the Yoga department at the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre in Colombo, lauded PM Modi’s global promotion of Yoga. He noted that the Indian leader’s advocacy has elevated Yoga from a niche practice to a globally respected form of wellness embraced widely across Sri Lanka.