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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit Sri Lanka from 4 to 6 April 2025, where he will take part in the virtual groundbreaking ceremony for a long-delayed solar power project in Trincomalee.
Modi will become the first foreign head of government to arrive on the island under the new administration of Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
The 120-megawatt solar venture in the Tamil homeland, which has been stalled for years, will now move forward as a joint initiative, with both Modi and Dissanayake scheduled to participate in the virtual launch from Colombo on April 5.
Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri described the project as a “milestone in the bilateral partnership” and a testament to India’s growing footprint in the island’s energy and infrastructure sectors.
"They will together dedicate several projects that are being built with Indian assistance in Sri Lanka and will also witness the exchange of several MoUs pertaining to energy connectivity, digitisation, defence, health, and multisectoral grant assistance," Misri told reporters in New Delhi.
Trincomalee, a coastal district in the Tamil-majority North-East was once designated the capital of Tamil Eelam, and has long been viewed as a strategic asset by both New Delhi. It houses a deep-sea port and energy facilities that India has shown persistent interest in, including oil tank farms and renewable energy potential.
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that Modi’s visit will include meetings with Sri Lankan political leaders and senior dignitaries, as well as a visit to Anuradhapura on April 6 to inaugurate development projects funded through Indian financial assistance. The visit is being framed as part of India’s broader regional strategy, in line with its ‘Neighbourhood First’, ‘Act East’, and ‘MAHASAGAR’ policies, which seek to deepen ties across the Indo-Pacific.
This will be Modi’s first visit to Sri Lanka since 2019, and it follows his participation in the 6th BIMSTEC Summit in Thailand.
