The High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka, Santosh Jha, accompanied by Dr. Rambabu C., Counsellor (Political) & Head of Chancery, met with representatives of Bahujana Balaya recently in a discussion that lasted more than three hours, underscoring the importance both sides placed on open and meaningful dialogue.

According to the Bahujana Balaya, far from being a ceremonial courtesy call, the meeting reflected India’s continued engagement with a broad spectrum of political and social stakeholders in Sri Lanka, including emerging nationalist movements. The talks provided an opportunity to exchange perspectives on issues of mutual importance.

Issuing a statement, the Bahujana Balaya said the conversation covered Sri Lanka–India relations and trade cooperation, regional security and the 13th Amendment, community relations between the North and South, and India’s system of governance, democratic institutions, and guiding principles of diplomacy.

The Bahujana Balaya stressed that the meeting was not used to criticize the Sri Lankan Government or President, but to focus on matters of national importance. 

“In diplomacy, the nation must always come first,” the group noted, stressing that constructive dialogue builds trust and long‑term cooperation.

As a token of appreciation, Bahujana Balaya presented the High Commissioner with a replica of the Naga Raksha mask, one of Sri Lanka’s most iconic cultural symbols. The mask embodies protection, wisdom, vigilance, and the triumph of truth over evil, with its cobra hood signifying divine knowledge and its striking eyes believed to ward off the “evil eye.”

The Bahujana Balaya delegation included Chairman Milinda Rajapaksha, General Secretary Iranga Mendis, National Organiser Piyal Dharshana Guruge, Media Secretary Anjana Udara, Deputy Chairwoman Kumudini Bandara, and Executive Committee Member Sonala Gunawardene.

The Bahujana Balaya expressed appreciation for the openness of Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha and Dr. Rambabu C., noting that diplomacy is strengthened through mutual respect, understanding, and continuous dialogue. 

The group said constructive engagement between India and Sri Lanka’s national stakeholders will remain vital for promoting peace, stability, and shared prosperity. (Newswire)

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The High Commission of India in Colombo has invited applications from eligible Sri Lankan students for undergraduate and diploma courses under the Self Financing Scheme for the academic year 2026‑27. 

According to the Indian High Commission, the scheme excludes PIO/OCI card holders and NRIs.

Courses available include MBBS, BDS, BE, B.Tech, B.Pharm, B.Arch, as well as diploma‑level technical and pharmacy programs.

Eligibility requirements are as follows:

• MBBS/BDS: Minimum 50th percentile in NEET and 50% each in Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and English at A/L.
• BE/B.Tech and Diploma in Engineering: At least 60% each in Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and 50% in English at A/L.
• B.Pharmacy and Diploma in Pharmacy: Minimum 60% each in Physics, Chemistry, Biology and 50% in English at A/L.
• B.Arch: Mandatory clearance of the aptitude test prescribed by the Council of Architecture, New Delhi.

Application forms can be obtained from the Education Wing of the High Commission of India, Colombo on working days between 2:00 pm and 4:00 pm, upon production of G.C.E. O/L and A/L certificates along with the Birth Certificate.

The deadline for submission of completed applications with supporting documents is July 24, 2026. (Newswire)

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Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Santosh Jha, has held discussions with Sri Lankan politicians Tilvin Silva from the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), and former Presidents Ranil Wickremesinghe and Mahinda Rajapaksa, yesterday.

According to the Indian High Commission, the meeting with JVP General Secretary, Tilvin Silva, focused on the momentum added to India-Sri Lanka ties post the visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 

The discussion also focused on ways in which India and Sri Lanka can work together for a more mutually beneficial partnership.

During the meeting with former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, the Indian High Commissioner briefed him on the recent developments in the bilateral partnership. 

The discussion also focused on the shared history between India and Sri Lanka, as well as on the limitless potential of a shared future. 

Meanwhile, the meeting with former President Mahinda Rajapaksa saw an exchange of views on the versatile and dynamic India-Sri Lanka partnership in the context of global developments. 

Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha also briefed the former President on the recent advancements in India-Sri Lanka ties. (Newswire)

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Sri Lanka hosted the 4-day International Gita Mahotsav in Colombo from 01 – 04 March 2024, with the event concluding yesterday with a copy of the Shrimad Bhagavad Gita being presented to the Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena.

According to the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka, this was the fifth edition of the International Gita Mahotsav organised for the first time in Sri Lanka by Kurukshetra Development Board of Government of Haryana (KDB), India, Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs and Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre, the cultural arm of the High Commission of India in Colombo in collaboration with about 30 religious and social organisations in Sri Lanka.

Highlights of the gala event included a Sadhbhavna Yatra from Nelum Pokuna to Vihara Mahadevi Park of Colombo on Sunday (Mar 03) with nearly a thousand artists displaying local performing arts along with floats by ISKCON, Ramakrishna Mission, Mayurapathy Sribhadrakali Temple. Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena and Ministers Bandula Gunawardena and Vidura Wickramanayaka witnessed the Yatra with High Commissioner Santosh Jha and the delegation from India.

The second day saw an International Discourse on Gita in addition to several seminars by experts on the theme of “Gita- An Epitome of Peace, Fraternity and Harmony”. The panel for the International Gita Discourse included remarks by Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Vidura Wickramanayake, High Commissioner Santosh Jha, Swami Gurusharanand Ji Maharaj, Gita Manishi Swami Gyanand ji Maharaj, Member Secretary KDB Sh. Vikas Gupta and Prof Asanga Tilakaratne. The universality and timelessness of Gita’s message were the common thread in these discussions.

The International Gita Mahotsav in Sri Lanka was the biggest international edition ever held. The previous 4 editions were held in Australia (2023), Canada (2022), UK (2019) and Mauritius (2019). Within India, Kurukshetra Development Board has been organising Gita Mahotsav since 1989 in the city of Kurukshetra, the land where’Bhagwad Gita’ is believed to have been delivered by Lord Krishna to Arjuna as a part of the epic Mahabharat. (NewsWire)

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The Government of India (GOI) has increased the financial allocation for various grant projects being implemented across Sri Lanka. 

According to the Indian High Commission in Colombo, the decision has been taken in response to rapid changes in the economic landscape of Sri Lanka. 

Financial allocation has been increased by up to 50% in the case of 9 ongoing projects that are being executed under the India-Sri Lanka High Impact Community Development Project (HICDP) framework. 

The overall financial commitment for these 9 projects currently stands at close to SLR 3 billion, after the increase. These projects cut across sectors ranging from education and health to agriculture, among others.

The Indian High Commission further said that the Indian Government has completed more than 60 grant projects under the HICDP framework, covering all 25 Districts of Sri Lanka. In addition, 20 other projects are under different stages of implementation. The HICDP framework was signed between the two countries in 2005 and subsequently renewed thrice, for a period of five years each time. It may be recalled that GOI also doubled the ceilings for individual projects as well as the overall financial capital outlay under the framework in January 2023.

The Indian Government’s overall development cooperation partnership portfolio in Sri Lanka is around USD 5 billion, of which USD 600 million is grant. 

The Indian High Commission stated that demand-driven and people-centric projects carried out by GOI span across areas such as infrastructure development, housing, livelihood assistance, etc 1990 Emergency Ambulance Service, Railway Track rehabilitation, Integrated Water Plants, Indian Housing Project and Jaffna Cultural Center are among the landmark projects completed by GOI in Sri Lanka. (NewsWire)

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The High Commission of India together with the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre (SVCC), the cultural arm of the High Commission, celebrate the 9th International Day of Yoga, by conducting a yoga event at the Port of Colombo on Wednesday (21). 

According to the Indian High Commission, the event was organised onboard and alongside the visiting Indian Naval Submarine Vagir, connecting Colombo to the Global Ocean Ring – a unique initiative of IDY 2023 wherein 19 Indian Navy ships were deployed the world over to commemorate Yoga Day.

 The High Commissioner of India, Gopal Baglay and senior officials from the Government of Sri Lanka including Gen Kamal Gunaratne (Retd), Secretary of Defence, Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera, Commander of Sri Lanka Navy and Rear Admiral PS De Silva, Commander Western Naval Area joined Sri Lanka Navy personnel, the crew of INS Vagir, and officials and staff of the High Commission for the programme. 

The High Commissioner in his remarks, underlined the transformative power of Yoga – a shared heritage of India and Sri Lanka. He noted that High Commission and SVCC had organised nearly 100 yoga events across the country over the last 50 days with the unstinted support and enthusiasm of the yoga institutions and enthusiasts in Sri Lanka. He emphasised that the visit of INS Vagir undertaken to commemorate IDY 2023 brought the message of goodwill, friendship and camaraderie to the shores of Sri Lanka.

The visit of INS Vagir was the first foreign port call of this recently commissioned indigenous Kalvari-class submarine of the Indian Navy. During its stay in Colombo from 19-22 June 2023, thousands of people including school children, scouts, guides, members of the NCC as well as officers from Sri Lanka Navy and their family members visited the submarine and had the rare opportunity to get onboard. 

As an outreach initiative, the crew of INS Vagir also interacted with Colombo-based school children and presented essential items for some of these schools. The visit fostered brotherhood and togetherness between the Navies of the two neighbours in line with India’s policy of ‘Neighbourhood First’ and vision of ‘Security And Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR)’. (NewsWire)

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The Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka has refuted media reports claiming that India has demanded compensation/damages from Sri Lanka for the assistance provided during the fire incidents onboard MT New Diamond and MV Xpress Pearl.

The High Commission stated that the reports pertaining to the ship disasters which occurred in September 2020 and May-June 2021 are completely false and incorrect. 

It may be recalled that the Government of India immediately deployed ships of the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) in response to specific requests from Sri Lanka Navy for providing expeditious assistance to fight the fire incidents onboard MT New Diamond and MV Xpress Pearl. 

Rescue operations conducted by these ships were instrumental in curtailing the hazardous effects of the two fire incidents and thereby limiting the damage to the maritime and marine environment of Sri Lanka, the statement said. 

The Indian High Commission further stated that in line with the ‘Polluter Pay Principle’ as per international norms, India has raised a claim for deployment, salvage activities and items/stores undertaken by these ships. 

The Government of Sri Lanka has been requested to join our claims with that of the Sri Lankan side in the respective forum. It is emphasized that the request has been for presenting these claims to the Insurer/Owner for settlement and reimbursing the compensation received through established channels, the High Commission said. 

The Indian High Commission in Colombo reiterated that India has not demanded any damages/compensation from the Government of Sri Lanka.

It added that the Government of India’s immediate deployment of ships are in line with the ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy and Security And Growth for All (S.A.G.A.R) doctrine. (NewsWire)

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The Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka has urged the public to be aware of fake Indian e-Visa websites.

The High Commission said in a statement that it has been noticed that some fake/fraudulent web URLs are offering Indian e-Visa. 

Therefore, applicants are advised not to use these fake URLs for obtaining Indian e-Visa, it added.

The list of fake URLs, shared by the Indian High Commission, is as follows;

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The 100th episode of ‘Mann Ki Baat’, a monthly radio program of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was broadcasted live by the High Commission of India in Sri Lanka yesterday (30). 

According to the Indian High Commission, the milestone occasion was commemorated by hosting the live broadcast of the radio programme at the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Center in Colombo.

The 100th episode of Mann Ki Baat, which was aired worldwide, saw the Prime Minister recollecting the journey of the radio broadcast in its celebration of people’s participation and positivity. 

The Prime Minister shared the transformative impact the programme has had by inspiring mass movements aimed at societal changes. The milestone episode revisited some of the popular stories on the themes of women’s empowerment, the promotion of local handicrafts and nature preservation. It also featured a conversation between DG UNESCO and Prime Minister on the ways in which India is attempting to put culture and education at the top of the international agenda, especially in the context of holding the Presidency of G20.

The live broadcast was followed by a Special Panel Discussion on the theme of ‘Mann Ki Baat: A Leader’s Connect, A Nation’s Voice’. The distinguished panellists comprised High Commissioner of India, Gopal Baglay; Chairman, Liberty Publishers (Pvt) Ltd & Derana Macro Entertainment (Pvt) Ltd, Dilith Jayaweera; Director of International Affairs at the Presidential Secretariat, Dinouk Colombage and Chairman of FCBkl.lk, Santosh Menon.

The panellists discussed the platform’s ability to integrate the power of the individual for the collective good. They underscored the value of emotional connection for effective communication. The High Commissioner emphasised that the participatory approach of ‘Mann Ki Baat’ brings people to the centre of India’s growth story. It provides a platform for sharing, learning and creating people’s movements to achieve national goals.

The programme was attended by members of the Indian community, local dignitaries and friends of India in Sri Lanka.

‘Mann Ki Baat’ is a monthly radio programme hosted by the Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, where he interacts with citizens of India on various contemporary themes and issues. These include government policies and reforms, India’s cultural legacy and diversity, extraordinary achievements of citizens as well as global events of relevance, among others. (NewsWire)

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