This article covers the political relationship between India and Sri Lanka: how the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) characterises it, visits by heads of state and government, ministerial and parliamentary exchanges, and the documents concluded during these visits. It is based on the MEA brief on India-Sri Lanka bilateral relations, which is stated to be as on 30 June 2026.
How the brief describes the relationship
According to the MEA brief of June 2026, India is Sri Lanka's closest neighbour and the relationship between the two countries is more than 2,500 years old, with what the brief calls a strong civilisational and historical connect. Sri Lanka has a central place in India's 'Neighbourhood First' policy and its MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) vision.
The brief describes bilateral relations as matured and diversified, covering all areas of contemporary relevance, and says they are marked by regular high-level exchanges. It names the shared cultural and social heritage of the two countries and the extensive people-to-people interaction of their citizens as the foundation of the partnership.
Visits by the Prime Minister of India
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has visited Sri Lanka four times since 2014. The latest visit, in April 2025, was the first visit to Sri Lanka by any Head of State or Government since President Anura Kumara Disanayaka assumed the presidency in September 2024. During that visit:
- a total of 7 MoUs were exchanged, covering fields such as defence cooperation, health and mass media, energy and connectivity
- PM Modi and President Anura Kumara Disanayaka jointly inaugurated 5 projects built with Indian assistance
- PM Modi was conferred the 'Sri Lanka Mitra Vibhushana' award, which the brief describes as Sri Lanka's highest honour bestowed on foreign leaders, in recognition of his contribution to the advancement of bilateral ties
The earlier visits were in March 2015, the first standalone bilateral visit by a Prime Minister of India since 1987; in May 2017, as chief guest for the first ever International Vesak Day hosted by Sri Lanka; and in June 2019, to express solidarity after the Easter Sunday attacks.
PM Modi has also had three telephone conversations with President Anura Kumara Disanayaka: in April 2025, in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack; in December 2025, after Cyclone Ditwah; and in March 2026, to discuss the West Asia conflict.
Other visits from India
Vice President Shri C.P. Radhakrishnan paid an official visit to Sri Lanka from 19-20 April 2026, accompanied by the Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Prof. S.P. Singh Baghel. After the brief, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri paid an official visit to Sri Lanka on 05 August 2026, his first stand-alone visit as Foreign Secretary.
The External Affairs Minister (EAM) has visited Sri Lanka nine times since 2019. The brief lists these visits:
- November 2019, as the first Foreign Minister to visit Sri Lanka after the 2019 Presidential elections
- January 2021, EAM's first foreign visit in 2021
- March 2022, to attend the BIMSTEC Ministerial meeting
- January 2023, to interact with the new Sri Lankan government headed by then President Ranil Wickremesinghe
- October 2023, to attend the 23rd Council of Ministers' meeting of the IORA
- June 2024, the first bilateral visit by EAM after assuming office in the current term
- October 2024, as the first foreign dignitary received under Anura Kumara Disanayaka's Presidency
- April 2025, as part of the official delegation for the Prime Minister's State Visit
- December 2025, as the Prime Minister's Special Envoy
National Security Advisor Ajit Doval visited in January and November 2020 and in August 2024, the last time for the signing of the founding documents of the Colombo Security Conclave. The brief states that these and other regular high-level visits have sustained the momentum of the relationship. In February 2023, the then Minister of State for External Affairs V. Muraleedharan and Minister of State Dr. L. Murugan visited Sri Lanka separately, the former for Sri Lanka's 75th Independence Day celebrations.
Visits from Sri Lanka
President Anura Kumara Disanayaka paid a State visit to India from 15-17 December 2024, his first overseas trip after taking office. He was accompanied by Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath and Minister of Labour Anil Jayantha, and held discussions with the President of India and PM Modi. Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar, EAM, the National Security Advisor and the Minister of Health called on him. A joint statement was issued during the visit, and the President also visited Bodh Gaya. He later participated in the AI Impact Summit in India in February 2026.
Before taking office, and in his capacity as NPP leader, he visited India under the 'Distinguished Visitors Programme' in February 2024. He met EAM and the National Security Advisor and also visited Ahmedabad and Thiruvananthapuram.
Other recent visits from Sri Lanka recorded in the brief include:
- Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, from 16-18 October 2025, to participate in the NDTV World Summit; she called on PM Modi and met EAM
- Leader of Opposition Sajith Premadasa, from 3-6 November 2025; he met EAM, the NSA and the Minister of Health
- Speaker of Parliament Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne, to participate in the 28th Commonwealth Parliamentary Speakers and Presiding Officers Conference in New Delhi from 14-18 January 2026
- Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) General Secretary Tilvin Silva, from 5-12 February 2026; he met EAM and the Deputy NSA in New Delhi and visited Ahmedabad and Thiruvananthapuram
- Minister of Health & Mass Media Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, to participate in the Second WHO Traditional Medicine Global Summit from 17-19 December 2025
- Foreign Minister Mr. Vijitha Herath, to participate in the Raisina Dialogue 2026 from 05-07 March 2026
Earlier Sri Lankan leaders
The then President Ranil Wickremesinghe visited India in July 2023 on a bilateral visit and in June 2024 to attend the swearing-in ceremony of the new Government following India's Parliamentary Elections. He also participated virtually in all three editions of the Voice of Global South Summit led by India, the latest in August 2024.
The then President Gotabaya Rajapaksa visited India in November 2019 on his first overseas trip after assuming the Presidency. The then Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa paid a State Visit to India in February 2020, also his first overseas trip in office. PM Modi hosted a Virtual Bilateral Summit (VBS) with Mahinda Rajapaksa in September 2020, at which a joint statement titled "Mitratva Magga - Path of friendship" was issued.
Parliamentary exchanges
The brief records the following parliamentary visits to India:
- a multi-party Parliamentary delegation led by the Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka, Dr. Rizvie Salih, for a week-long Orientation Programme by PRIDE in May 2025
- a Sri Lanka India Parliamentary Friendship Association (SLIPFA) delegation led by the Minister of Health & Mass Media, Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, in August 2025
- a delegation of the Women Parliamentarians' Caucus of the Sri Lankan Parliament, led by the Minister of Women and Child Affairs, Ms. Saroja Savithri Paulraj, from 10-16 May 2026