The Government of India formally handed over 134 single-cab vehicles to Sri Lanka for use by the Police, in a ceremony at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo on Monday morning.
The vehicles, donated under the Indo–Sri Lanka Friendship Programme, were received by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Valued at Rs. 300 million, they are earmarked for deployment to police stations across the Northern Province.
Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha, speaking at the event, said New Delhi remains committed to extending similar assistance to Sri Lanka in the future.
According to the Indian High Commission, the memorandum of understanding for the supply was signed in January 2025 in response to a request from Sri Lanka Police, and was among several initiatives launched after President Dissanayake’s state visit to India in December 2024. The mission said the vehicles are intended to improve operational efficiency and shorten response times, “particularly in challenging terrains,” to strengthen the maintenance of law and order.
The handover continues a steady stream of Indian development and security assistance to Sri Lanka, with the Northern focus carrying particular weight in the former conflict zone. It follows India’s commitments on six projects worth USD 2.37 billion in the Eastern Province and a broader trade and connectivity reset outlined by High Commissioner Jha. India has also moved to expedite USD 450 million in post-Cyclone Ditwah support.
