Sri Lankan Minister of Health and Mass Communication Nalinda Jayatissa has said that India continues to play a vital role in Sri Lanka’s march towards prosperity, stability, and welfare.

Jayatissa, who also serves as the President of the Sri Lanka-India Parliamentary Friendship Association (SLIPFA), shared his views while leading a 24-member high-level delegation to New Delhi. At a dinner hosted by Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha, the Minister highlighted the centuries-old historic ties between the two nations, calling India a “lifeline” for Sri Lanka in health, education, and economic recovery.

During their visit, the SLIPFA delegation met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla at the Parliamentary Research and Training Institute for Democracies (PRIDE). Birla stressed Sri Lanka’s significance in India’s Neighbourhood First policy and the MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) vision, while welcoming more bilateral exchanges between the two Parliaments.

Birla also noted 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 strengthening ties. He underscored that institutional cooperation and democratic dialogue would further reinforce the shared values of both nations.

Emphasising cultural and spiritual connections, Birla said the development of the Ramayana and Buddhist tourism circuits, along with increasing people-to-people exchanges, remain key pillars of India-Sri Lanka relations.

Jayatissa, in turn, thanked India for being the first responder during Sri Lanka’s economic crisis and praised India’s role in maintaining peace and stability in the Indian Ocean Region. He reiterated that India’s support was crucial for Sri Lanka’s journey towards sustainable development and regional cooperation.