Strengthening Friendship With Valued Neighbour: PM Modi, Dissanayake Talk India-Sri Lanka relations, Blue Economy
The two leaders took stock of progress on key bilateral initiatives emerging from recent visits. Image courtesy: X.com/@narendramodi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday (February 20, 2026) held talks with Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on the sidelines of the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, reviewing progress across a rapidly expanding bilateral agenda and reaffirming their shared commitment to connectivity, technology-driven growth and stability in the Indian Ocean Region.
The meeting comes amid renewed momentum in India-Sri Lanka ties, following a series of high-level visits and sustained development cooperation between the two neighbours. Recently, India acted as the first responder and provided humanitarian aid and relief packages to Sri Lanka in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah.
PM Modi dubbed the meeting as “strengthening friendship with a valued neighbour!” He shared that they discussed avenues of cooperation in areas such as energy, connectivity, infrastructure, healthcare, skilling, culture, blue economy and more.
PM Modi- Dissanayake meet: What did the leaders discuss?
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the two leaders took stock of key initiatives emerging from recent engagements, including PM Modi’s State Visit to Sri Lanka in April 2025 and President Dissanayake’s State Visit to India in December 2024.
At the centre of discussions were three core pillars that now define the bilateral partnership: physical connectivity, digital connectivity and energy connectivity.
Both sides underlined the importance of accelerating infrastructure linkages, improving cross-border energy cooperation and strengthening digital integration to drive economic recovery and long-term resilience in Sri Lanka.
How is AI becoming a new area of cooperation?
With President Dissanayake in India for the AI Impact Summit 2026, which was held at the Global South for the first time, technology and innovation featured prominently in the talks.
The leaders exchanged views on harnessing artificial intelligence for development, agreeing that responsible AI deployment can improve service delivery, enhance governance efficiency and promote inclusive growth, particularly in developing economies.
India’s experience in building Digital Public Infrastructure and scaling population-wide digital platforms was seen as a valuable model for collaboration.
How has India supported Sri Lanka in times of crisis?
A significant part of the conversation focused on India’s assistance during Sri Lanka’s recent challenges. President Dissanayake expressed gratitude for India’s swift and unconditional support following Cyclone Ditwah, which caused widespread damage across parts of the island nation.
Under ‘Operation Sagar Bandhu’, India deployed emergency relief supplies and assisted search and rescue operations, reinforcing its position as Sri Lanka’s “First Responder”.
The leaders also reviewed progress under India’s $450 million assistance package aimed at reconstruction, infrastructure restoration and livelihood support. The package has become a cornerstone of Sri Lanka’s ongoing recovery and economic stabilisation efforts.
India-Sri Lanka relations
India and Sri Lanka share deep civilisational, cultural and economic ties rooted in geography and history. As close maritime neighbours in the Indian Ocean, both countries attach high importance to regional security, sea lane protection and economic connectivity.
The leaders highlighted the successful exposition of the Holy Devnimori relics in Sri Lanka as an example of enduring cultural bonds that continue to strengthen people-to-people linkages.
Such exchanges, they noted, give the bilateral relationship a unique societal depth beyond strategic and economic cooperation.
Why does this meeting matter for the Indian Ocean Region?
The talks reaffirmed that India and Sri Lanka see enhanced connectivity, development cooperation and technological collaboration as essential not only for bilateral progress but also for wider regional stability.
With Sri Lanka’s sustainable development needs at the forefront, both sides agreed to work closely to ensure that infrastructure, digital transformation and energy partnerships contribute to peace and prosperity in the broader Indian Ocean Region.
