Colombo: India will continue to stand firmly with Sri Lanka whenever the island nation faces a crisis, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Tuesday as he began his maiden visit to the neighbouring country.
Addressing members of the Indian diaspora in Colombo, Singh underlined the close cultural and civilisational ties between the two countries, saying these bonds provide a strong foundation for further strengthening bilateral relations.
Singh highlighted India’s economic transformation over the past decade, saying the country’s economy has grown from around $2 trillion in 2014 to nearly $4 trillion today.
He said India’s economy grew by 7.8% in the first quarter of FY 2026-27, despite global economic challenges. India’s goods and services exports have also risen from around ₹45 lakh crore in 2014 to ₹79 lakh crore in FY 2025-26, he said.
The minister cited the expansion of electronics and mobile-phone manufacturing, noting that India has become the world’s second-largest mobile phone manufacturer, with more than 300 manufacturing units compared with just two in 2014.
Singh said India’s defence exports have surged from around ₹600 crore 12 years ago to nearly ₹39,000 crore, while the defence budget has risen from around ₹2 lakh crore in 2013-14 to ₹7.25 lakh crore in FY 2025-26.
He described the growth as evidence of India’s expanding defence capabilities and its push towards an Aatmanirbhar defence sector.
Singh also highlighted India’s growing start-up ecosystem, GST reforms, infrastructure expansion and digital public infrastructure.
He said around 25 crore Indians have moved out of poverty, while social-security coverage has expanded from about 25 crore people in 2014 to around 95 crore today. Direct Benefit Transfers have transferred approximately ₹51 lakh crore directly into beneficiaries’ bank accounts, he added.
Singh credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi with strengthening India’s global standing and praised the Indian diaspora for serving as a bridge between the two countries.
Sri Lankan ministers, Western Province Governor Hanif Yusoof, Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha and senior officials attended the event.
