Lok Sabha Speaker meets Sri Lanka delegation, calls for deeper institutional dialogue

Minister of Health and Mass Communication of Sri Lanka, Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, has praised India’s role in ensuring peace and stability in the Indian Ocean region, while describing India’s cooperation in health and education as a lifeline for Sri Lanka.

The statement was given after a 24-member high-level delegation of the Sri Lanka–India Parliamentary Friendship Association met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla at the Parliament House complex, here today.

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The Sri Lankan parliamentary delegation is on a visit to India from 26–30 August 2025. It comprises 20 Members of Parliament and 4 parliamentary staff.

Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, President of the Sri Lanka–India Parliamentary Friendship Association, led the delegation. “India and Sri Lanka share deep historical, cultural, and civilisational ties. Today, these bonds have evolved into a strong, multi-dimensional partnership. Sri Lanka holds a special place in India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy and ‘Vision SAGAR’,” the Lok Speaker said while welcoming the delegation.

Dubbing the formation of the India–Sri Lanka Parliamentary Friendship Association in the Sri Lankan Parliament as a testament to the strength of bilateral ties, Birla called for the need for institutional cooperation and regular dialogue between the parliaments of both countries to share democratic practices and the experiences of elected representatives. “Such exchanges will further reinforce democratic values,” he said.

Stating that shared heritage between the two countries goes back thousands of years, with deep-rooted cultural and people-to-people connections forming key pillars of bilateral relations, the Lok Sabha speaker stressed that the development of the Ramayana and Buddhist tourism circuits, along with cultural exchanges and growing people-to-people contact, provides a strong foundation for these relations.

“The use of AI technology and digital innovations in the Indian Parliament has enhanced transparency, efficiency, and ease of functioning, promoting paperless proceedings,” he said. He also spoke about PRIDE’s role in conducting capacity-building programmes for legislators from over 110 countries and expressed India’s readiness to share these innovations with other nations.

Meanwhile, Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa thanked India for being the first responder during Sri Lanka’s economic crisis. Notably, India–Sri Lanka cooperation is currently centred on investment-led development, grant assistance, trade, tourism, education, and cultural exchange. The two countries have also signed multiple agreements in key areas, including defence, energy, health, communications, and religious tourism, reflecting the broadening scope of their bilateral partnership.