Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh, on his maiden visit to Sri Lanka, reaffirmed India’s unwavering commitment to the island nation, stating that India will always stand firmly with Sri Lanka whenever it faces a crisis.
Addressing the Indian diaspora in Colombo, the Defence Minister underscored the deep cultural, civilisational and historical bonds shared by India and Sri Lanka, describing these enduring ties as a strong foundation for further strengthening bilateral relations and cooperation.
Highlighting India’s economic transformation over the past decade, Shri Rajnath Singh stated that India has emerged as one of the fastest-growing major economies and contributes more than 16 per cent to global growth. India’s economy, which stood at approximately USD 2 trillion in 2014, has doubled to nearly USD 4 trillion. He noted that the Indian economy registered 7.8 per cent growth in the first quarter of FY 2026-27, despite global economic challenges.
The Defence Minister also highlighted improvements in India’s macroeconomic stability, stating that average inflation over the past 12 years has remained around 4.7 per cent, compared with 10-11 per cent during the earlier period.
On the expansion of India’s external trade and manufacturing capabilities, Shri Rajnath Singh said that the value of goods and services exports has risen from Rs 45 lakh crore in 2014 to Rs 79 lakh crore in FY 2025-26. He highlighted the substantial growth in electronics and mobile phone manufacturing, noting that electronic goods production has increased from Rs 1.9 lakh crore to more than Rs 11 lakh crore, while exports have risen by around 700 per cent.
India has also emerged as the world’s second-largest mobile phone manufacturer, with manufacturing units increasing from just two in 2014 to more than 300 today. Mobile phone production has grown from Rs 18,000 crore to Rs 5.5 lakh crore, while exports have increased nearly 163 times to Rs 2.6 lakh crore. Automobile exports have also risen from around Rs 50,000 crore to Rs 1.20 lakh crore annually.
On India’s expanding global economic engagement, the Defence Minister stated that India has concluded trade agreements with 38 countries over the last 12 years, including Free Trade Agreements with eight major nations, compared with four before 2014. Referring to the India-European Union FTA as the “Mother of All Deals”, he said the agreement would provide access to the vast EU market and reflected India’s growing diplomatic and economic capabilities.
Shri Rajnath Singh attributed India’s enhanced global standing and credibility to the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. He stated that India’s voice today commands greater attention and respect on the international stage. He also appreciated the Indian diaspora in Sri Lanka for serving as an important bridge between the two countries and their peoples.
Defence Sector: Towards Aatmanirbharta:
Dwelling on India’s transformation in the defence sector, the Defence Minister highlighted the country’s remarkable progress in defence production and exports. He stated that India’s defence exports, which stood at approximately Rs 600 crore 12 years ago, have now reached an all-time high of around Rs 39,000 crore.
He further noted that India’s defence budget has increased from approximately Rs 2 lakh crore in FY 2013-14 to Rs 7.25 lakh crore in FY 2025-26.
The Defence Minister said that the growth of defence production and exports reflects India’s expanding indigenous capabilities and its sustained march towards a stronger, self-reliant and Aatmanirbhar defence sector.
He also highlighted India’s emergence as the world’s third-largest start-up ecosystem, with a rapid increase in the number of unicorns since 2014. According to him, this growth demonstrates the innovation, entrepreneurial spirit and technological capabilities of India’s youth.
Inclusive Growth and Digital Transformation:
The Defence Minister also highlighted major reforms in taxation and public welfare, noting that the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax established the “One Nation, One Tax” regime, while tax-relief measures have reduced the burden on individual taxpayers.
He stated that approximately 25 crore Indians have been lifted out of the cycle of poverty, with poverty declining significantly in both rural and urban areas. Social-security coverage has expanded substantially, from around 25 crore beneficiaries in 2014 to approximately 95 crore Indians today.
Shri Rajnath Singh also underlined the transformative impact of India’s Digital Public Infrastructure, particularly the rapid expansion of broadband connectivity and the unprecedented growth of the Unified Payments Interface.
Highlighting India’s infrastructure development, he pointed to the rapid expansion of highways, airports and transport networks. He said Indian Railways is progressing towards the objective of 100 per cent electrification.
The Defence Minister also highlighted the role of the JAM (Jan Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile) architecture and Direct Benefit Transfer mechanism in ensuring transparent and direct delivery of welfare benefits. He stated that approximately Rs 51 lakh crore has been transferred directly into people’s bank accounts through DBT.
The event was attended by Cabinet Minister in the Sri Lankan Government Mrs Saroja Savithri Paulraj, Governor of Western Province Mr Hanif Yusoof, Deputy Minister in the Sri Lankan Government Mr Sundaralingam Pradeep, High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka Shri Santosh Jha, senior Indian civil and military officials, and members of the Indian community.
The Defence Minister’s visit and his interaction with the Indian diaspora reaffirm India’s commitment to strengthening its enduring partnership with Sri Lanka, founded on shared civilisational ties, mutual trust and a steadfast commitment to standing together in times of need.
