Indian Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan will visit Sri Lanka from April 19 to 20 in what India’s Ministry of External Affairs confirmed is the first bilateral visit by an Indian Vice President to the island nation.
During his visit, Radhakrishnan will call on President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and meet Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya, as well as other senior government officials.
Strategic timing
The visit comes at a time of heightened bilateral engagement between Colombo and New Delhi. India has been a critical partner in Sri Lanka’s post-crisis recovery, providing currency swaps, credit lines for fuel and essential goods, and significant infrastructure investment.
The timing is particularly notable given the ongoing energy crisis triggered by the Middle East conflict. India facilitated Sri Lanka’s first crude oil shipment since the Hormuz closure, with the vessel Desh Mahima — owned by the Shipping Corporation of India — delivering 97,500 metric tons of crude to Colombo Port on April 17. A 36,700 MT petrol shipment from India arrived earlier this month.
Connectivity projects including the India-Sri Lanka ferry service and energy cooperation remain key agenda items in the bilateral relationship.
The visit follows External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s recent comments on Hambantota port, which marked the sharpest Indian language on the Chinese-leased facility since the 2017 lease agreement.
