Colombo: India and Sri Lanka signed a landmark defence cooperation agreement on Saturday, marking the first such initiative between the two nations. The pact was finalised following bilateral discussions between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in Colombo.

Alongside the defence agreement, the two countries also signed a memorandum to develop Trincomalee as an energy hub. In another development, an agreement was reached to enable India’s multi-sectoral grant assistance aimed at supporting projects in Sri Lanka's eastern region.

Prime Minister Modi and President Dissanayake also jointly inaugurated the Sampur solar power project through a virtual ceremony.

Multiple other agreements were concluded during the meeting, reflecting a strengthening of bilateral ties across various sectors.

The talks were held a day after Modi arrived in the Sri Lankan capital after concluding his trip to Bangkok where he attended a summit of the BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation).

Ahead of the talks, Modi was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the historic Independence Square in the heart of the Sri Lankan capital, in perhaps the first such honour given to a foreign leader.

President Dissanayake received the prime minister at the Square -- the venue for national day celebrations and takes its name from the Independence Memorial Hall built to commemorate the island nation's independence from British rule in 1948.

PTI