At an interactive session organised by the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) on 26th September 2025, H.E. Ms. Mahishini Colonne, High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to India, underlined the depth of the relationship between the two neighbours and the immense opportunities for economic collaboration. The event was held on the occasion of the visit of Sri Lanka’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Cooperatives, Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe.
Opening her remarks, the High Commissioner extended gratitude to PHDCCI for hosting the session and congratulated the Chamber on completing 120 years. She commended its role in strengthening bilateral engagement, saying, “Over the decades, this Chamber has played a vital role in fostering meaningful engagement between Sri Lanka and India, and we deeply value this partnership.”
She welcomed the Chamber’s plans to lead a business delegation to Sri Lanka, calling it a timely move. “This is indeed a most opportune time to explore new avenues for collaboration,” she noted.
Highlighting the historic and cultural closeness of the two countries, she said, “Sri Lanka and India share a relationship that is both unique and enduring. It is difficult to think of any aspect of life in Sri Lanka that does not, in some way, carry the imprint of India.” Quoting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, she added that Sri Lanka and India are truly “civilizational twins.”
The High Commissioner stressed that today the bilateral relationship is increasingly shaped by trade, investment, and technology. “India stands as Sri Lanka’s largest trading partner, our largest source of tourism, and one of our most significant investors. Moreover, India has consistently been the first responder to Sri Lanka in times of crisis, including most recently during our economic challenges.”
Reflecting on recent high-level visits, she pointed out that ties have reached “a level of unprecedented excellence” since the election of President Amar Kumar Hisanayake in September 2024, his state visit to India in December, and Prime Minister Modi’s reciprocal visit to Sri Lanka in April 2025. With the Sri Lankan economy now stabilising, she stressed the government’s focus on “building resilience, achieving diversification, and ensuring sustainability.”
A central pillar of this partnership, she said, is the joint statement “Fostering Partnerships for a Shared Future,” which sets out a roadmap for cooperation in renewable energy, agriculture, digital services, tourism, and people-to-people connectivity.
Positioning Sri Lanka as a gateway for Indian business, the High Commissioner said, “India is not only our closest neighbour, situated just 22 nautical miles away, but also our most natural business partner. For Indian business, this presents an opportunity to view Sri Lanka not only as a neighbour, but as a trusted partner — a springboard to regional and global markets — and to make Sri Lanka an integral part of India’s own growth story.”
The presence of Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe at the session, she emphasised, was a clear signal of Sri Lanka’s commitment to deepening economic and business ties with India.
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