India has thanked the Sri Lankan parliamentary delegation for backing their fight against terrorism. A statement issued by the Indian HC in Colombo quoted Speaker of Lok Sabha Om Birla as having thanked the delegation for expressing its solidarity with India’s fight against terrorism.
The visit took place in the wake of India launching attacks over the Pahalgam massacre.
The text of the IHC statement: “A Parliamentary delegation from Sri Lanka, led by Deputy Speaker Dr. Rizvie Salih, visited India from 25-31 May 2025. The delegation comprised 20 Members of Parliament (MP), representing various political parties, and four officials of the Sri Lankan Parliament, including the Secretary General.
The delegation was the inaugural batch to undergo the Orientation Programme at India’s Parliamentary Research and Training Institute for Democracies (PRIDE) in New Delhi. This is pursuant to the announcement made by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi during his recent visit to Sri Lanka in April 2025, offering 700 customised training slots annually for Sri Lankan professionals.
The visiting delegation called on the Speaker of Lok Sabha, Shri Om Birla. Underscoring the historical friendship between India and Sri Lanka, the Speaker thanked the Sri Lankan Parliamentary Delegation for expressing its solidarity with India’s fight against terrorism. External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar also received the delegation and reiterated India’s commitment to Sri Lanka’s development and progress under the ‘Neighbourhood First’ Policy and ‘MAHASAGAR’ vision.
Deputy Speaker Dr. Rizvie Salih and other distinguished delegates from Sri Lanka thanked the Government of India for the unconditional assistance rendered to Sri Lanka over decades.
They also sought deeper and closer collaboration with India in several spheres, including Parliamentary exchanges, trade, technology and tourism.
Under the Orientation Programme, the delegation had interactive sessions on legislative and budgetary processes, system of Parliamentary Committees and other related matters between the two democracies. Several senior MPs, Parliamentary officials, Media persons shared insights on the Indian Polity with the Sri Lankan delegation. While in India, the participants also had the opportunity to experience the transformation underway in the Indian economy, particularly on the Digital Public Infrastructure and urban mobility through visits to Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), Delhi Metro Railway Corporation and DLF IT Park. The delegation also had first-hand experience of the ongoing R&D projects in the realm of energy sector at IIT Delhi.
As part of the cultural immersion, the delegation visited the UNESCO World Heritage Site Taj Mahal, Agra and also enjoyed the Sound & Light Show on History of India at Red Fort, New Delhi.
It may be recalled that the re-establishment of the India-Sri Lanka Parliamentary Friendship Association in the Sri Lankan Parliament in early May 2025 witnessed the participation of scores of MPs across party lines. The visit as well as the strong turnout at the above events, are symbolic of the democratic values and traditions that bind the people of the two countries.”