Sri Lankan Prime Minister Meets NITI Aayog to Strengthen India–Sri Lanka Collaboration

Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister, Dr. Harini Nireka Amarasuriya, visited NITI Aayog in New Delhi, marking a significant step in strengthening India–Sri Lanka bilateral cooperation. The visit focused on exploring collaborative opportunities across sectors such as infrastructure, education, tourism, skill development, and artificial intelligence.

Acknowledging NITI Aayog’s Role

During her visit, Dr. Amarasuriya praised NITI Aayog’s role as India’s premier policy think tank, highlighting its ability to bridge long-term policy formulation with on-ground implementation. She expressed interest in learning how NITI Aayog collaborates with central ministries and state governments to integrate evidence-based policymaking, analysis, and citizen feedback into governance.

The Sri Lankan Prime Minister also emphasized the importance of institutions that maintain policy continuity beyond political cycles, aligning with Sri Lanka’s ongoing reform initiatives.

Discussions on Sectoral Collaboration

The high-level discussions, led by NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Suman K. Bery, focused on potential collaboration in several key sectors:

• Infrastructure: Insights on India’s PM Gati Shakti initiative for multimodal infrastructure planning, with possibilities of replicating India’s integrated logistics models in Sri Lanka.

• Education: Opportunities to align with India’s National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020) to promote inclusive learning and educational reforms.

• Tourism: Joint initiatives in heritage, eco, and wellness tourism, aimed at boosting cultural exchange and economic growth.

• Skill Development: Collaborative programs to enhance workforce skills and support emerging sectors.

• Artificial Intelligence and Digital Governance: Exploring frontier technologies for governance and innovation-driven growth.

Bilateral Relations and Economic Cooperation

Presentations highlighted the India–Sri Lanka bilateral relationship, with particular attention to:

• Trade and Investment: Opportunities under the Economic and Technology Cooperation Agreement (ETCA).

• Infrastructure Planning: Application of India’s multimodal logistics model in Sri Lankan cities such as Kandy, fostering efficient urban planning.

• Technology-Driven Education: Implementation of NEP 2020 reforms for improving education outcomes and digital learning platforms.

These discussions underscored the potential for technology, policy, and knowledge-sharing partnerships, strengthening both countries’ economic and social development goals.

Focus on Tourism and Cultural Exchanges

The meeting also addressed ways to enhance tourism collaboration, with a focus on:

• Heritage Tourism: Promoting cultural landmarks and historical sites in both nations.

• Eco-Tourism: Encouraging sustainable travel initiatives to protect the environment.

• Wellness Tourism: Leveraging Ayurveda and wellness practices to attract global tourists.

Such initiatives aim to deepen people-to-people connections while fostering economic opportunities through cross-border tourism.

Participation of NITI Aayog Officials

Officials from various divisions of NITI Aayog attended the discussions, reflecting India’s commitment to knowledge-sharing and cooperative engagement. The collaborative approach highlighted the importance of integrating policy expertise, technology solutions, and governance frameworks to support mutual growth.

Conclusion

The visit by Sri Lankan Prime Minister Dr. Harini Nireka Amarasuriya to NITI Aayog reinforced the strategic partnership between India and Sri Lanka. Through discussions on infrastructure, education, tourism, skill development, and AI, both nations explored innovative avenues for collaboration, setting the stage for stronger bilateral relations, economic growth, and technology-driven development. The meeting underscores India’s commitment to knowledge-sharing and sustained policy engagement with regional partners.