COLOMBO, April 5: In a significant recognition of his efforts to bolster Indo-Sri Lankan relations, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred with the Sri Lanka Mitra Vibhushana, the island nation’s highest civilian honour for Heads of State and Government, on Saturday.
The award was presented by Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake during a joint press briefing held in Colombo, marking a historic moment in the diplomatic relationship between the two neighbouring countries.
Instituted specifically to honour global leaders of nations maintaining friendly relations with Sri Lanka, the Sri Lanka Mitra Vibhushana reflects a deep appreciation for solidarity and goodwill towards the Sri Lankan people.
“I am pleased to announce that the Government of Sri Lanka has decided to confer upon PM Modi the highest Sri Lanka honour — Sri Lanka Mitra Vibhushana,” President Dissanayake stated. “Prime Minister Modi highly deserves this honour. This is what we firmly believe,” he added.
In his response, Prime Minister Modi expressed heartfelt gratitude, noting that the honour was not solely personal but represented the entire Indian population.
“To be honoured with the Sri Lanka Mitra Vibhushan award by President Dissanayake is not just an honour to me but to 140 crore Indians… I thank the President, the government of Sri Lanka, and the people here,” Modi said.
He emphasized that the award stands as a testament to the long-standing relationship and deep-rooted friendship between India and Sri Lanka.
The Sri Lanka Mitra Vibhushana medal, specially crafted to honour extraordinary international friendships, symbolizes the spiritual and cultural heritage shared by both nations. It incorporates the Dharma Chakra, representing their Buddhist legacy; the Pun Kalasa, a ceremonial vessel filled with rice sheaves, symbolizing prosperity and renewal; and the Navarathna, nine precious gems enclosed within a lotus-shaped globe, signifying the enduring Indo-Lankan bond.
This distinction marks the 22nd international recognition bestowed upon PM Modi by a foreign nation, underlining his global stature as a leader committed to regional peace, development, and spiritual diplomacy.
President Dissanayake, reflecting on the depth of India-Sri Lanka relations, said, “Sri Lanka and India share more than just geographical proximity. We have similar aspirations as governments, and we deeply appreciate all these engagements, which we consider to be of historic significance.”
He also noted the strong cultural and historical ties between the two nations, adding, “We are neighbours with deep historical, religious and cultural ties that go back over a long period of time, and our time-tested relationship is built on shared values, mutual respect and common interests.”
To further deepen cooperation, the two leaders virtually inaugurated several key bilateral projects, including the Sampur Solar Power Project and a Temperature-Controlled Agriculture Warehouse in Dambulla.
A series of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) were also exchanged in the areas of energy, digital transformation, and trilateral cooperation. These included:
- Implementation of HVDC interconnection for power import/export
- Sharing of India’s digital solutions for digital transformation
- A trilateral MoU between India, Sri Lanka, and the UAE to develop Trincomalee as an energy hub
India’s financial assistance to Sri Lanka remains substantial and far-reaching, impacting all 25 districts of the country. The cumulative financial aid provided by India, including emergency economic support, amounts to nearly $7 billion, with grant assistance alone accounting for $780 million.
Over the past decade, more than 40 developmental projects have been completed under Indian grants totalling nearly $265 million. Indian investments have also become a key pillar of Sri Lanka’s economic framework, with the total investment portfolio now exceeding $2 billion.
The conferring of the Sri Lanka Mitra Vibhushana award on PM Modi symbolizes a shared destiny, spiritual kinship, and a vision for collective progress, rooted in mutual trust and respect between India and Sri Lanka.
