Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday said India would always stand firmly with Sri Lanka whenever the island nation faces a crisis, stressing that ties between the two countries rest on shared history, culture and faith.
Singh, who arrived in Colombo on his first three-day visit to Sri Lanka, made the remarks while interacting with the Indian diaspora. He is scheduled to hold talks with Sri Lanka’s top leadership during the visit.
“India will always stand firmly with Sri Lanka whenever the island nation faces a crisis,” Singh said. He said the two countries share close cultural and civilisational links, which have provided a strong foundation for the growth of bilateral ties. Describing the Indian diaspora as a “Sethu” or bridge between India and Sri Lanka, he said it “plays a crucial role in strengthening friendship” between the two nations.
In his address, Singh highlighted India’s economic growth, saying the country is among the fastest-growing major economies in the world and contributes more than 16 per cent to global growth. He said India’s economy grew at 7.8 per cent in the first quarter of 2026-27 despite global economic challenges. He also said the value of India’s goods and services exports rose from Rs 45 lakh crore in 2014 to Rs 79 lakh crore in 2025-26.
Singh said India has become the world’s second-largest mobile phone manufacturer, with manufacturing units rising from two in 2014 to more than 300 now. He said India had concluded trade deals with 38 countries over the past 12 years, including free trade agreements with eight major nations. Referring to the India-European Union FTA as the “Mother of All Deals”, he said it opened access to the large EU market and reflected India’s growing diplomatic and economic strength.
He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for what he called a sharp rise in India’s global credibility, saying that compared to 12 years ago, the world now listens when India speaks on the international stage. He said growth in the defence sector showed India’s expanding capabilities and its continued journey towards a stronger and Aatmanirbhar defence sector.
Singh said India now has the world’s third-largest start-up ecosystem and that the number of unicorns has risen rapidly since 2014, showing the innovative spirit and entrepreneurial courage of the country’s youth. He also said the introduction of GST had established a “One Nation, One Tax” regime, while tax relief measures had reduced the burden on individual taxpayers. According to him, about 25 crore Indians have been lifted out of poverty. He also pointed to the impact of digital public infrastructure, including the expansion of broadband connectivity and rapid growth in UPI payments, along with the development of highways, airports and other transport networks.
Before leaving for Sri Lanka, Singh had said he was looking forward to a productive engagement with the country’s leadership. “Besides our longstanding partnership as well as deep historical and civilisational ties, Sri Lanka is one of our most important partners under the Neighbourhood First and MAHASAGAR initiatives,” he said in a post on X. Singh is leading a high-level delegation of senior officials from the defence and external affairs ministries, and was received at Bandaranaike International Airport by Sri Lanka’s Deputy Minister of Defence, Maj Gen (Retd) Aruna Jayasekara. His visit centred on ties with Sri Lanka, India’s support in times of crisis, and his wider pitch on India’s economic and strategic progress.
With PTI Inputs
– Ends
Source link
[ad_3]
