India crucial to Sri Lanka’s progress, says minister Nalinda Jayatissa

Sri Lanka’s march towards prosperity and welfare relies heavily on India’s support, said Nalinda Jayatissa, Sri Lanka’s Minister of Health and Mass Communication.

He made the remarks while sharing insights from a recent visit to New Delhi by a 24-member high-level delegation from the Sri Lanka-India Parliamentary Friendship Association (SLIPFA).

Jayatissa, who led the delegation as SLIPFA President, highlighted the centuries-old ties between the two nations. He spoke during a dinner hosted by Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha in Colombo. The event was attended by Sri Lankan Deputy Ministers and Members of Parliament from different parties.

Last month, the SLIPFA delegation visited the Parliamentary Research and Training Institute for Democracies (PRIDE) in New Delhi. They met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla during their visit. Speaker Birla emphasised Sri Lanka’s importance in India’s Neighbourhood First policy and the MAHASAGAR vision, which stands for Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions. He called for more exchanges between India and Sri Lanka.

Birla also noted the recent high-level visits that strengthened bilateral relations. He referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Sri Lanka in April 2025 and Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s visit to India in December 2024 as “milestones in bilateral relations.”

He welcomed the creation of the India-Sri Lanka Parliamentary Friendship Association in the Sri Lankan Parliament. “This is a testament to the strength of bilateral ties,” he said. Birla added that regular dialogue between the two parliaments is essential to share democratic practices and experiences of elected representatives. These exchanges, he said, will further strengthen democratic values.

Birla pointed out that India and Sri Lanka share a heritage that goes back thousands of years. He emphasised the deep cultural and people-to-people connections between the two countries. “The development of the Ramayana and Buddhist tourism circuits, along with cultural exchanges and growing people-to-people contact, provides a strong foundation for these relations,” he said.

Jayatissa expressed gratitude to India for helping Sri Lanka during its economic crisis. He said, “India was the first responder during Sri Lanka’s economic crisis.” He also praised India’s role in ensuring peace and stability in the Indian Ocean Region. Furthermore, he described India’s cooperation in health and education as “a lifeline for Sri Lanka.”