During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming visit to Sri Lanka, the focus will be on infrastructure development, with major railway projects set to be inaugurated in Anuradhapura.
These projects will include track upgrades, signaling improvements, and the launch of the NTPC Sampur Solar Project.
The Sampur Solar Power Project, located in the Trincomalee district, is a joint venture between India’s National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) and Sri Lanka’s Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB). It is part of India’s broader support for renewable energy in Sri Lanka, including a $17 million initiative to install rooftop solar systems across 5,000 religious institutions.
The handover of solar panels and equipment for various religious sites, such as a Buddhist temple in Hokandara and St. Anthony’s Church, took place in October 2024, with involvement from the Indian High Commission, CEB, and Sri Lanka’s Sustainable Energy Authority.
PM Modi’s visit, from 4th to 6th April will mark his fourth trip to Sri Lanka, following visits in 2015, 2017, and 2019. During this trip, discussions will include India’s continued support for Sri Lanka’s debt restructuring efforts, following India’s early backing of Sri Lanka’s 2023 debt restructuring plan. India also provided approximately $4 billion in aid between January and July 2022 to help Sri Lanka through its foreign exchange crisis.
Another major focus will be on connectivity, particularly the India-Sri Lanka power grid link. This plan involves a high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission line between Madurai in Tamil Nadu and Anuradhapura in central Sri Lanka. The project, being developed by the Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL) and CEB, aims to help Sri Lanka save on energy costs by reducing its dependence on expensive thermal power.
Additionally, discussions will center around advancing the India-Sri Lanka oil pipeline project, with the UAE playing a key role in supplying energy products to Sri Lanka.
PM Modi will also visit Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu on April 6, where he is expected to pray at the Sri Arulmigu Ramanathaswamy Temple. He may also visit the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) Memorial in Sri Lanka, which honors Indian soldiers who lost their lives during the peacekeeping mission in the country between 1987 and 1990.
Finally, an announcement on capacity building for Sri Lankan civil servants is expected during the visit.
