Military Space News
SUPERPOWERS
Sri Lanka to host India PM Modi next month
Sri Lanka to host India PM Modi next month
by AFP Staff Writers
Colombo (AFP) Mar 24, 2025

Sri Lanka will host Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi next week, an official said Monday, as Colombo grapples with the competing interests of its powerful northern neighbour and China, its largest lender.

A member of leftist President Anura Kumara Dissanayake's office said Modi will be the first foreign head of government to visit the island nation under the new administration.

"It must be recalled that President Dissanayake's first foreign visit after his election in September was to New Delhi in December," the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told AFP.

He said Modi was due to hold bilateral talks on April 5 and travel to the northern Buddhist pilgrimage city of Anuradhapura before returning the following day.

Dissanayake travelled to Beijing in January for his second foreign visit as president, underscoring Sri Lanka's delicate balancing act of maintaining ties with the two regional rivals.

New Delhi has been concerned about China's growing influence in Sri Lanka, which it considers to be within its sphere of geopolitical influence.

China has emerged as Sri Lanka's largest single bilateral creditor, accounting for more than half of its $14 billion bilateral debt at the time the island defaulted on its sovereign debt in 2022.

Beijing was also the first to restructure its loans to Sri Lanka, a move that cleared the way for the island to emerge from that year's worst-ever economic meltdown.

During Dissanayake's visit to Beijing, the two countries agreed to continue maritime cooperation and signed several agreements on agriculture, tourism and media collaboration.

Unable to repay a massive Chinese loan in 2017, Sri Lanka handed over its southern port of Hambantota to a Beijing-based company on a 99-year lease for $1.12 billion.

New Delhi has objected to Chinese research vessels entering Sri Lanka's ports, accusing them of spying on Indian military installations, an allegation rejected by Beijing.

Related Links
Learn about the Superpowers of the 21st Century at SpaceWar.com
Learn about nuclear weapons doctrine and defense at SpaceWar.com

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
SUPERPOWERS
Europe shifts gears for the Trump era
Brussels, Belgium (AFP) Mar 20, 2025
Barely a month ago, a phone call between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin sent an unmistakable message across the Atlantic: the United States may not be there forever to keep Europe safe from an aggressive Russia. By the time the pair spoke again this week, a whirlwind of diplomacy had seen Europe juggle alliances and rewrite long-held rules - with a show of assertiveness not always associated with the Old Continent. "The advent of the Trump administration has given history a shove, and concentr ... read more

SUPERPOWERS
Israel military says intercepted missile from Yemen

Israel army says intercepted missile launched from Yemen

Israel says intercepted missile from Yemen

France, Italy, UK order more air defence missiles

SUPERPOWERS
Australian army gets battle-tested US long-range missiles

Kim oversees NKorea's new weapons ahead of Russian security chief visit

Iran unveils missile systems on strategic Gulf islands

Top EU diplomat hails Trump offer to help Ukraine get air defences

SUPERPOWERS
Rampart debuts StrataWave UAS radio designed for stealth in electronic warfare zones

New Antenna Technology Targets Drone Swarm Neutralization

AV secures DIU contract to advance autonomous strike drone deployment

Ukraine drones hit Russian energy sites, Kyiv source says

SUPERPOWERS
Unseenlabs opens Singapore office to boost Asia Pacific operations

European satellite group ready to step up for Kyiv's military: CEO

Researchers establish new basis for quantum sensing and communication

Rivada and Amentum Collaborate to Enhance Secure Government Communications

SUPERPOWERS
More kit, better barracks: Germany's military in need of overhaul

US approves sale of $3 bn in munitions, bulldozers to Israel

Denmark and Norway to 'increase cooperation' on defence

Eight soldiers killed in Colombia road accident

SUPERPOWERS
As Russia looms, EU defence plans fail to quell joint borrowing calls

Defense Dept. cuts $580M in funding deemed wasteful

What's in Germany's giant spending 'bazooka'?

German defence minister plans crisis meet on US-made arms: report

SUPERPOWERS
Hegseth to make first Asia trip as Pentagon chief

Japan stresses US alliance after Trump cost-cutting reports

Sri Lanka to host India PM Modi next month

UK-French defence chiefs discuss plans to guarantee potential Ukraine truce

SUPERPOWERS
Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.