General Upendra Dwivedi, the Chief of Army Staff of India, is scheduled to visit Sri Lanka early next month to reinforce defence cooperation with the island nation, a key partner in India’s Neighbourhood First policy. The visit aims to build on years of high-level military engagement between the two countries, enhancing mutual trust, strategic alignment, and operational synergy, according to a statement from the Ministry of Defence.

Dwivedi’s trip comes on the heels of Indian Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi’s visit to Colombo in September, marking a year of continuous bilateral military diplomacy. Earlier this year, Lieutenant General B K G M Lasantha Rodrigo, commander of the Sri Lanka Army, visited India to strengthen defence ties and strategic cooperation. During his visit, he returned to his alma mater, the Indian Military Academy, as the reviewing officer for the passing out parade of cadets.

India and Sri Lanka have a history of close military exchanges. In 2021, then-Army Chief General M. M. Naravane visited Sri Lanka for wide-ranging discussions with the leadership and witnessed the Mitra Shakti joint military exercise, which has become a symbol of army-to-army collaboration. In 2023, Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage, then commander of the Sri Lanka Army, visited India to reaffirm his country’s commitment to maintaining close defence and institutional ties.

General Dwivedi’s visit is expected to significantly strengthen army-to-army cooperation through training exchanges, capacity building, and joint exercises such as Mitra Shakti. The visit will also provide an opportunity for both nations to engage on emerging security challenges in the Indo-Pacific and Indian Ocean regions, including maritime domain awareness and counter-terrorism cooperation.

In addition to military discussions, the Army Chief is expected to pay homage at shared military memorials, underscoring the historical and cultural bonds between India and Sri Lanka. The visit also reflects broader diplomatic convergence, with Sri Lanka supporting India’s bid for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council, while India backs Sri Lanka’s aspirations for a greater role in BRICS and other multilateral forums. Through this visit, India reaffirms its role as a trusted neighbour to Sri Lanka, strengthening strategic and maritime cooperation while advancing the objectives of its Neighbourhood First policy.