Visit of the Hon’ble Vice President of India to Sri Lanka (April 19-20, 2026)

Hon'ble Vice President of India, Shri C.P. Radhakrishanan visited Sri Lanka from 19 to 20 April 2026. He was accompanied by Prof. S.P. Singh Baghel, Hon'ble Minister of State in the Minsitry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandary and Diarying; and Ministry of Panchayati Raj and Hon'ble Members of Parliament Dr. K. Laxman and Dr. Medha Vikram Kulkarni. This was the first ever bilateral visit of the Vice President of India to Sri Lanka. Earlier, in October 2000, Shri Krishan Kant, the then Vice President of India had visited Sri Lanka for the State funeral of the former Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Ms. Sirimavo Bandaranaike.

2. On 19 April, Hon'ble Vice President called on the President of Sri Lanka, H.E. Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo. The two leaders reviewed on-going bilateral initiatives, including the progress of various development cooperation projects being undertaken by India in Sri Lanka. They were pleased to note the resumption of train services after restoration work on Northern Railway Line, which had suffered extensive damage during Cyclone Ditwah in November-December 2025. The restoration work were carried out under USD 5 million grant from the Government of India. Hon'ble Vice President and the Sri Lankan President expressed their happiness at the completion of construction of three more Bailey bridges, restoring the critical road connectivity post the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah. These Bailey bridges, completed alongside the visit, were constructed by the Indian Army as part of India's USD 450 million assistance package for reconstruction and rehabilitation post Cyclone Ditwah. Vice President expressed happiness that Sri Lanka has decided to join the India-led International Big Cat Alliance.

3. Hon'ble Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya hosted a luncheon in honour of the Hon'ble Vice President. The two leaders discussed the deep civilisational bonds between India and Sri Lanka and the vibrant people-to-people connections that keep these bonds alive. Hon'ble Vice President and the Sri Lankan Prime Minister, who is also the Education Minister, noted with satisfaction, the announcement regarding the enhancement of scope of support under the Ceylon Estate Workers Education Trust (CEWET) Scholarship Scheme. The number of scholarships has been increased from 350 to 700, and the monthly stipend has been increased to LKR 2500 for A-Level students and LKR 7500 for those pursuing higher education, benefiting the children of estate workers.

4. Hon'ble Vice President also interacted with leaders of the Indian Origin Tamil and Sri Lankan Tamil political parties besides meeting the Leader of Opposition, Mr. Sajith Premadasa in Colombo on 19 April.

5. Hon'ble Vice President also addressed around 1000 members of the Indian Diaspora at a community reception at the New Kathiresan Hall in Colombo. At the event, Hon'ble Vice President announced the extension of OCI Card eligibility to include 5th and 6th generation Indian Origin Tamils (IOTs) in Sri Lanka, from the existing condition of up to 4th generation. Hon'ble Vice President also announced simplification of the OCI process by providing recognition to certificates issued by the Government of Sri Lanka as proof of nativity. OCI Cards will now be issued on the basis of these documents, including Certificates of Registration issued by Sri Lankan Government, India-Sri Lanka passports, or the registration records maintained at High Commission of India, Colombo and Assistant High Commission of India, Kandy. This was a long-standing request of the Indian Diaspora in Sri Lanka and will benefit IOTs, especially estate workers. Hon'ble Vice President also virtually inaugurated and handed over the final set of 145 houses to its beneficiaries, marking the completion of Phase-III of the Indian Housing Project, under which 4000 houses have been constructed for plantation estate workers. The Indian Housing Project, with an overall commitment of around INR 1835 crores (LKR 62.75 billion, approx.) is a flagship grant assistance project in Sri Lanka and is the largest overseas project undertaken by the Government of India. As a part of the initiative, 50,000 houses have already been competed and work on another 10,000 houses is underway.

6. Hon'ble Vice President also paid his respects at the Kathiresan Temple and the Gangaramaya Temple, where the Holy Relics of Lord Buddha from Devnimori in Gujarat were on display in February 2026.

7. On 20 April, Hon'ble Vice President visited houses constructed under the Indian Housing Project at the Liddlesdale Estate at Ragala in Nuwara Eliya district of Sri Lanka. There, he interacted with families of beneficiaries and visited the village in which 166 houses have been constructed under IHP Phase-III.

8. In Nuwara Eliya, Hon'ble Vice President also visited the Seetha Amman Temple. This key location, associated with the Ramayana, is where Mata Sita is believed to have been held captive by Ravana in Ashok Vatika.

9. In addition to the announcements on OCI Cards, completion of Phase-III of the Indian Housing Projects, resumption of train services on the restored Northern Railway Line, installation of 3 Bailey Bridges and expansion of CEWET Scholarship, Sri Lanka deciding to join the India-led International Big Cat Alliance, the following MoUs were also exchanged during the visit:

i. MoU on first set of six priority projects under the Multi-Sectoral Grant Assistance for Eastern Province.

ii. MoU for construction of a four-storey Medical Ward Complex at District General Hospital in Mullaitivu.

10. Sri Lanka remains a key partner in India's 'Neighbourhood First' Policy and Vision MAHASAGAR. This historic first ever bilateral visit of the Indian Vice President to Sri Lanka follows the recent high-level engagements between the two countries and will further reinforce the centuries-old people-to-people ties that bind India and Sri Lanka.

Colombo
April 20, 2026