Our Special Correspondent
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh assured that India will always value Tamil culture and development.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who arrived in Sri Lanka on Tuesday afternoon for a three-day official visit, was given a warm welcome at Colombo’s Bandaranaike International Airport. He was received by Sri Lanka’s Deputy Defence Minister Major General (Retd.) K.P. Aruna Jayasekara and India’s Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Santosh Jha.
This is the first time in 38 years that an Indian Defence Minister has visited Sri Lanka.
Following this, Minister Rajnath Singh attended a reception organized by people of Indian origin at a star hotel in Colombo and spoke. The main points are as follows:
I am proud to meet you on the soil of Sri Lanka, where spirituality and culture are deeply intertwined. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and we place great value on the Tamil language and its culture and development. The installation of the "Sengol" in Parliament as a symbol of righteous governance, and the effort to take the principles of Thiruvalluvar and Bharathiar to every part of the country, are marks of the high respect the Central Government accords to Tamil heritage.
India’s borders are completely secure today. We will not attack anyone first. But our policy is very clear: if anyone dares to attack us, we will not spare them. Through the “Self-Reliant India” initiative, India is manufacturing weapons on its own. The “defence industrial corridor” being set up in Tamil Nadu not only ensures the country’s security but also provides employment opportunities for Tamil Nadu’s youth.
Under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, India has emerged as one of the world’s leading economic powers. Rajnath Singh said that the development of Tamil Nadu is the development of India.
Meeting with the President and Prime Minister: President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya, and the Secretary of Defence and the commanders of the Sri Lankan armed forces will meet Rajnath Singh on Wednesday (Sept. 10) and Thursday. Officials said that bilateral defence agreements, maritime security in the Indian Ocean region, and air defence cooperation will be discussed then.
Indian Foreign Ministry senior officials noted that Rajnath Singh and Sri Lankan leaders will also discuss issues concerning Indian and Sri Lankan fishermen during this meeting.
Meanwhile, in connection with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s visit to Sri Lanka, the Indian Navy’s state-of-the-art warship “INS Udaygiri” also arrived at Colombo port on Tuesday. Sri Lankan naval personnel are also scheduled to take part in technical and information exchange training aboard the ship, and Indian and Sri Lankan personnel are planned to engage in a joint exercise together.
