Rajnath Singh will leave tomorrow on a two-day visit to Sri Lanka, will meet many leaders including the President

Defense Minister Rajnath Singh will be on a two-day visit to Sri Lanka on 2 and 3 September. The government says that this visit will prove to be a 'milestone' in deepening the friendship between the two countries.

The Defense Ministry said Rajnath Singh will hold talks with President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardene. Wickremesinghe also holds the charge of the Defense Ministry of Sri Lanka.

"During the visit, Rajnath Singh will hold talks with Sri Lankan President and Defense Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardene," the ministry said in a statement. It has been told that during the meeting, all aspects of India's defense relations between the two countries will be reviewed.

Rajnath Singh will also visit Nuwara Eliya in central Sri Lanka and Trincomalee in the eastern part of the country. "This visit of Rajnath Singh will reiterate India's commitment to further the existing friendly relations with Sri Lanka," the ministry said.

will prove to be a milestone
"This will be an important milestone in building stronger bonds of friendship between the two countries," the statement said. In fact, India decided to expand its strategic ties with Sri Lanka amid China's continuous efforts to capture the island nation.

In August last year, a diplomatic row had arisen between India and Sri Lanka due to the docking of the Chinese missile and satellite tracking ship 'Yuan Wang' at Hambantota port. Not only this, but last month another Chinese warship stopped at Colombo port.

In August last year, India had given Dornier maritime surveillance aircraft to Sri Lanka. The aircraft was delivered to Sri Lanka from the Indian Navy's inventory to help meet the country's security needs.

India also supports the Sri Lankan Defense Forces in various capacity-building measures including providing indigenously built Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs). Sri Lankan President Wickremesinghe visited India in July, during which both sides pledged to further enhance their defense and strategic ties.

This was the first visit of a Sri Lankan leader to India after Sri Lanka grappled with the economic crisis. In that situation, India had given financial assistance of about 4 billion US dollars to Sri Lanka along with a loan for the purchase of food and fuel.