ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s newly appointed Ports & Civil Aviation Minister Anura Karunathilaka, will attend the Indian Maritime Week 2025 scheduled for next week, the Indian High Commission in Colombo said.
It will be Minister Karunathilaka’s first foreign visit as the Ports Minister.
During the visit, the Minister will have a bilateral meeting with his counterpart, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, Indian Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, the High Commission said in a statement.
The Minister will also join the Ministerial plenary of the India Maritime Week and meet prominent industry leaders on the sidelines of the visit. Key site visits will also be organized during the visit of Minister Karunathilaka.
India Maritime Week 2025, will take place from October 27-31in Mumbai, India, hosted by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Government of India.
The Minister will visit during the first two days.
The event is expected to serve as a catalyst for strengthening cooperation, driving strategic initiatives, and unlocking new opportunities across the maritime sector.
“The event presents an unparalleled opportunity for coastal nations to enhance their maritime infrastructure, modernize port operations, and attract global investment in shipping and logistics,” the Indian High Commission in Colombo said in a statement.
“The holistic approach of the event aims to promote inclusive growth and sustainable maritime development, fostering strategic partnerships for shared prosperity.”
India’s interest in Sri Lanka’s ports and aviation sectors has grown markedly in recent years, reflecting regional strategic, economic and connectivity ambitions.
On the maritime front, India has extended significant grants and financial support including USD 61.5 million commitment for upgrading the Kankesanthurai Port (KKS) in Northern Sri Lanka.
Analysts say India sees Sri Lanka’s strategic location in the Indian Ocean as key for trans-shipment routes, supply-chain linkages to Tamil Nadu and as a counter-balance to extra-regional maritime influence.
With the Port of Colombo already seeing increasing throughput (7.78 million TEUs in 2024) and joint ventures such as with India’s Adani Ports and Sri Lanka’s port authority backing expansions, India’s engagement is both commercial and strategic.
India’s port and aviation interests in Sri Lanka serve multiple purposes including securing supply-chain and energy-logistics nodes, strengthening friendly access in the Indian Ocean region amid Chinese infrastructure moves, and expanding trade-tourism corridors between South India and Sri Lanka.
For Sri Lanka, such Indian interest offers investment, connectivity and infrastructure support, though critics have raised questions about strategic autonomy, debt terms and regional alignments. (Colombo/October 24/2025)
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