Modi declared on Friday that India would improve people-to-people, maritime, air, and energy connectivity between the two nations while reiterating that India stands shoulder to shoulder- with the people of indebted Sri Lanka in this hour of trouble. "The goal is to quicken bilateral collaboration in the areas of trade, higher education, tourism, and energy. This is India's long- term commitment to Sri Lanka, according to the PM.

The comments came after a meeting with Ranil Wickremesinghe, who was visiting India for the first time in his capacity as president, and since the conflict last year over Sri Lanka's decision to permit a Chinese vessel to dock at the Hambantota port despite significant resistance from India. Modi reminded Sri Lanka not to permit the Chinese to conduct any action on its territory that could jeopardize India's security interests in his remark about the need to respect one another's sensibilities.

Five significant agreements were signed between the two parties, including an MoU for collaboration in the area of renewable energy and an agreement between NPCI International Payments Limited and Lanka Pay for acceptance of the UPI application in Sri Lanka.

Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra responded that the two leaders "made a comprehensive stock assessment of the challenges they face in the maritime domain" when asked about the difficulties posed by China. These difficulties were "appropriately brought up during the discussion," it was said.

"The Sri Lankan side did convey to us their respect for our security and strategic sensitive concerns relating to what happens to our maritime domain," said Kwatra.

Modi claimed that Wickremesinghe informed him about Sri Lanka's inclusive stance on the Tamil problem. He declared that India would support development initiatives in Sri Lanka's northern and eastern provinces. "We are commemorating our diplomatic ties' 75th anniversary. Additionally, the Indian-born Tamil community has been in Sri Lanka for 200 years. I'm pleased to announce that on this occasion, many projects totaling Rs 75 crore will be put into action for Sri Lankan Tamils of Indian ancestry.

A "comprehensive proposal" for "furthering reconciliation, power sharing through devolution, and multiple elements of the northern development plan," according to Wickremesinghe, was discussed with Modi.

The Economic and Technological Collaboration Agreement negotiations, according to Modi, will soon begin, creating new opportunities for trade and economic collaboration. It was decided to improve the air connection. It has also been agreed to launch passenger ferry services between Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu and Kankesanthurai in Sri Lanka to boost commerce and human movement. We decided to move quickly with the grid-connection process," Modi remarked.