Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh arrived in Sri Lanka for his first official visit as defence minister, pledging India's commitment to support the island nation during crises while highlighting India's economic and defence transformation.
Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh began his maiden visit to Sri Lanka on September 8, addressing the Indian diaspora in Colombo with a statement of solidarity. Singh said India would "stand firmly with Sri Lanka whenever the island nation faces a crisis," emphasising the shared cultural and civilisational ties between the two nations that form the foundation of bilateral relations.
During the three-day visit, Singh outlined India's economic transformation over the past decade. He noted that India had become one of the world's fastest-growing major economies, now contributing more than 16% of global growth. The Indian economy expanded from approximately $2 trillion in 2014 to around $4 trillion, with India's economy growing 7.8% in the first quarter of the 2025-26 financial year, according to Singh's remarks. He also highlighted improved macroeconomic stability, citing average inflation of 4.7% over 12 years compared with 10-11% in the preceding period.
Singh detailed sectoral growth across multiple industries. Electronics production increased from Rs. 1.9 trillion to over Rs. 11 trillion, while India became the world's second-largest mobile phone manufacturer, with production expanding from Rs. 180 billion to Rs. 5.5 trillion. Automobile exports rose from Rs. 500 billion to Rs. 1.2 trillion annually. India had also concluded trade agreements with 38 countries, including free trade agreements with eight major economies.
On defence capabilities, Singh reported that India's defence exports had grown from Rs. 6 billion to approximately Rs. 390 billion, with the defence budget rising from Rs. 2 trillion in 2013-14 to Rs. 7.25 trillion in 2025-26. He attributed these gains to India's push towards greater self-reliance in defence manufacturing. Singh credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi with strengthening India's international standing and noted the Indian diaspora's role as a bridge between the two nations. Sri Lankan officials including Women and Child Affairs Minister Saroja Savithri Paulraj and the Indian High Commissioner attended the event.