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VP Radhakrishnan Visits Sri Lanka to Strengthen Historic Ties, Engage Tamil Community

Vice President CP Radhakrishnan has arrived in Sri Lanka for his first foreign visit since assuming office. The two-day trip aims to strengthen civilizational ties and reinforce the strong people-to-people connection between the two nations. His itinerary includes meetings with Sri Lanka's top leadership and direct engagement with the Indian-origin Tamil community in Nuwara Eliya. The visit underscores Sri Lanka's central place in India's 'Neighbourhood First' policy and follows a history of high-level exchanges.

Key Points: India VP CP Radhakrishnan's First Foreign Visit to Sri Lanka

  • First foreign visit since taking office
  • Reinforce people-to-people connections
  • Part of Neighbourhood First policy
  • Engage with Indian-origin Tamil community
  • Review Indian housing projects
2 min read

Vice President CP Radhakrishnan arrives in Sri Lanka on first foreign visit since assuming office

Vice President CP Radhakrishnan arrives in Colombo for a 2-day official visit to strengthen bilateral ties and engage with the Indian-origin Tamil community.

"This is the first official bilateral visit by an Indian Vice President to Sri Lanka. - Randhir Jaiswal, MEA Spokesperson"

Colombo, April 19

Vice President CP Radhakrishnan has arrived in Sri Lanka for a two-day official visit, marking his first foreign visit since assuming office.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the visit is expected to strengthen civilisational ties and reinforce the long-standing people-to-people connection between India and Sri Lanka.

In a post on X, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "Vice President of India CP Radhakrishnan arrived in Colombo as part of a two-day visit to Sri Lanka. This is the first official bilateral visit by an Indian Vice President to Sri Lanka. The visit will strengthen the civilisational ties between and and reinforce the strong people-to-people connection."

According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the visit includes meetings with Sri Lanka's top leadership and engagements with the Indian-origin Tamil community. The visit is part of India's broader diplomatic outreach under its Neighbourhood First policy.

During the visit, the Vice President is scheduled to meet Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya, and the Leader of the Opposition, along with representatives of Sri Lankan Tamil and Indian-origin Tamil political groups.

According to Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Santosh Jha, the Vice President will also engage directly with communities in Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka's picturesque up-country tea-growing region, where a large section of the Indian-origin Tamil community resides.

There, he will visit settlements developed under India's Housing Project Phase III, which has already constructed 4,000 houses, with an additional 10,000 currently underway.

The visit is expected to see the Vice President interact with Indian-origin Tamil families, visit housing projects, and also tour the Seetha Temple in Nuwara Eliya.

In a previous post, the MEA highlighted Sri Lanka as "India's closest maritime neighbour and civilisational twin with a relationship spanning over 2,500 years," adding that the island nation holds a central place in India's 'Neighbourhood First' policy and MAHASAGAR vision.

It also referred to high-level political engagements in recent years, noting Prime Minister Narendra Modi's four visits to Sri Lanka since 2014, including in March 2015, May 2017, June 2019 and April 2025. It further highlighted the visit of Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Disanayaka's last visit to India for the India AI Impact Summit 2026.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rajesh Q
Good to see the Neighbourhood First policy in action. Sri Lanka's stability is crucial for regional security and our own economic corridor plans. Hope this visit also addresses the fishermen issue which affects many families in Tamil Nadu.
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Sarah B
While the visit is symbolically important, I hope it translates into concrete outcomes. We've had many high-level visits. The people-to-people connection is strong, but we need more focus on trade facilitation and easier travel for common citizens, not just officials.
A
Aman W
The civilisational and cultural ties are unbreakable. Visiting the Seetha Temple in Nuwara Eliya is a beautiful gesture. Our shared history is our greatest strength. Jai Hind!
K
Karthik V
Building 4000 houses and 10,000 more underway? That's substantial grassroots work. This is how diplomacy should work - improving lives directly. Kudos to the teams on the ground.
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Nidhi U
It's the Vice President's first foreign visit and he chose Sri Lanka. That sends a powerful message about our priorities. Hope the engagements with all political groups, including the opposition, foster long-term bipartisan support for the relationship in Sri Lanka.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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