Reception for Parliamentary Friendship Association
The High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka, Santosh Jha, hosted a reception in honour of the Sri Lanka–India Parliamentary Friendship Association (SLIPFA), following the delegation’s successful visit to India in August 2025.
The delegation was led by the Minister of Health & Mass Media and SLIPFA President, Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa.
In his address, the High Commissioner highlighted the enduring, people-centric ties between India and Sri Lanka, describing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s April 2025 visit to Sri Lanka as a pivotal moment in bilateral relations.
He outlined key outcomes of the visit, including agreements in energy, defence, digital transformation, healthcare, railways, and targeted development assistance for Sri Lanka’s Eastern Province.
He emphasized India’s commitment to equitable regional partnerships, noting India’s generous market access to Sri Lanka under the FTA and its substantial, unconditional support during Sri Lanka’s economic crisis in 2022.
He also spoke of India’s economic resurgence, now the world’s fourth-largest economy, and its role in promoting regional peace, maritime security, and a rules-based order.
The High Commissioner expressed confidence in SLIPFA’s continued role as a platform for dialogue, cooperation, and mutual growth.
Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa thanked the Government of India for hosting the 23-member delegation and reflected on the productive engagements during the visit in New Delhi.
These included discussions on public health, affordable medicine, education, vocational training, and innovation, as well as visits to leading healthcare institutions and start-ups. He noted the delegation’s exposure to India’s legislative processes and economic transformation as particularly valuable.
The event was attended by several SLIPFA members and reaffirmed the strengthening ties between India and Sri Lanka, grounded in shared democratic values and a common vision for regional prosperity.