Industry Minister concludes official visit to India following a series of high-level engagements aimed at expanding bilateral cooperation in industry, investment, textiles, agribusiness and technology, reinforcing the growing economic partnership between Sri Lanka and India.
Industry Minister concludes official visit to India to deepen investment and industrial ties
Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Sunil Handunneththi undertook the official visit from 14 to 18 July 2026 at the invitation of India’s Union Minister of Textiles, Shri Giriraj Singh. The visit included discussions with senior government leaders, industry representatives and investment agencies as Sri Lanka seeks to strengthen economic collaboration with one of its largest regional partners.
The visit began in New Delhi, where Minister Handunneththi participated in Bharat Tex 2026, one of India’s leading textile industry exhibitions. During the event, he met Union Minister of Textiles Shri Giriraj Singh and Minister of State for Textiles and External Affairs Shri Pabitra Margherita.
The discussions focused on expanding cooperation in the textiles and apparel sector, promoting industrial investment, strengthening regional value chains, increasing bilateral trade and enhancing capacity-building initiatives. Both sides also explored opportunities to encourage greater collaboration between Sri Lankan and Indian manufacturers as global supply chains continue to evolve.
As part of the visit, the Minister travelled to Rajasthan on 15 July to visit the Rajasthan State Industrial Development and Investment Corporation (RIICO) Neemrana Japanese Zone. The visit provided Sri Lanka with valuable insights into India’s approach to attracting foreign direct investment through dedicated industrial parks and specialised manufacturing zones.
Officials exchanged views on industrial infrastructure development, investor facilitation, workforce development and integration into global manufacturing value chains. The experience is expected to support Sri Lanka’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its own industrial ecosystem and attract higher levels of foreign investment.
On 16 July, Minister Handunneththi attended a business roundtable organised by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), where he met leading Indian business executives to discuss new opportunities for trade, investment and industrial collaboration.
The Minister also held discussions with Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav in New Delhi to explore avenues for expanding economic cooperation between Sri Lanka and the Indian state. During the meeting, the Chief Minister highlighted the longstanding civilisational ties between Sanchi and Sri Lanka and invited the Minister to participate in the Madhya Pradesh Global Investors Summit 2027, scheduled to be held in Bhopal in January next year.
Dr. Yadav also encouraged the exploration of direct air connectivity between Colombo and Bhopal, noting that improved transport links could strengthen tourism, facilitate business partnerships and promote greater people-to-people exchanges between the two destinations.
Recognising the importance of modernising Sri Lanka’s agriculture sector, the Minister visited the Indo-Israel Centre of Excellence for Vegetables in Haryana on 17 July. The visit showcased advanced agricultural technologies, including protected cultivation, precision irrigation, nursery management and farmer training programmes designed to improve productivity and sustainability.
Minister Handunneththi also toured the Haryana State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (HSIIDC) Mega Food Park in Sonipat, where he studied integrated food processing systems, cold chain infrastructure and value-added agricultural production. These models are expected to offer useful lessons for strengthening Sri Lanka’s food processing industry and improving rural value chains.
The official visit highlighted the broad scope of the Sri Lanka India economic partnership, extending beyond trade to include manufacturing, innovation, agribusiness, food processing and investment promotion. It also reflected the shared commitment of both countries to deepen cooperation in areas that support sustainable economic growth and regional competitiveness.
As Sri Lanka continues its industrial transformation agenda, the outcomes of the visit are expected to contribute to stronger bilateral investment flows, enhanced technology transfer and expanded commercial opportunities for businesses in both countries. Industry Minister concludes official visit to India with renewed momentum for closer collaboration across multiple strategic sectors.