Rajnath Singh lands in Colombo, the first Indian defence minister in 38 years

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh arrived at Bandaranaike International Airport on Tuesday, 8 September, for a three-day official visit. Sri Lanka’s Deputy Minister of Defence, Major General (retired) Aruna Jayasekara, and Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha received him. The Ministry of Defence in New Delhi said he was given a traditional welcome. This is the first visit by an Indian defence minister to Sri Lanka in 38 years.

Singh is leading a delegation of senior officials from the ministries of Defence and External Affairs. Before departure he wrote that Sri Lanka is one of India’s most important partners under the Neighbourhood First and MAHASAGAR initiatives, and that he would meet the Indian diaspora in Colombo. He stayed at the Taj Samudra. Police posted a special traffic plan for the airport-to-hotel run on the Katunayake-Colombo Expressway and for later movements to India House, the Presidential Secretariat, the Ministry of Defence, Parliament and Gangaramaya Temple.

Three bilateral agreements are due during the visit, including one on air defence. Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath said India will provide free maintenance support for the remaining six L70 air defence guns. He added that the visit would strengthen ties beyond defence. INS Udaygiri, an indigenous stealth guided-missile frigate, arrived at Colombo port on the same day as Singh.

The gap of 38 years is the fact that frames the trip. Defence ministers have not made this journey while China expanded port, energy and survey work around the island, and while India supplied credit, fuel and military training through Sri Lanka’s 2022 default and its aftermath. MAHASAGAR is New Delhi’s current label for maritime security across the Indian Ocean. A frigate on the quay and an air-defence maintenance pact are the concrete items under that label this week.

Singh addressed the diaspora on Tuesday evening. He spoke of shared history, culture and faith. The working meetings with the Sri Lankan leadership are set for 9 September. What is signed then, and whether the L70 support is written as a gift or a longer sustainment deal, will show how far the visit goes beyond ceremony. The last Indian defence minister to stand in Colombo left a blank that lasted almost four decades. This week is the attempt to fill it.