Brochure of the Conference

EGROW Foundation is attempting to create an ecosystem in India and its neighbourhood, leading to regional cooperation and development through academic diplomacy. In this context, since inception in October 2018, EGROW Foundation has conducted various online webinars with academicians and policymakers from neighbouring countries especially Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. We have noted that neighbouring countries are keen to take advantage of India's growth story and learn from Indian experience. EGROW successfully completed a One- Day Conference on Indo-Nepal Economic Relations on December 20, 2024. Encouraged by the results, EGROW foundation is exploring similar exercise with neighbouring countries like Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Mauritius and Maldives.

India and Sri Lanka share a time-tested relationship rooted in over 2,500 years of civilizational, historical, cultural, and religious ties. As close maritime neighbours, their geographic proximity has nurtured a deep, multidimensional, and forward-looking partnership— encompassing political dialogue, economic engagement, infrastructure development, and defence cooperation—all based on mutual respect, shared values, and common regional aspirations. Sri Lanka is central to India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy and the MAHASAGAR vision (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions), while supporting Sri Lanka's vision for regional hub status and its Blue Economy objectives.

A significant milestone in this trajectory was the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Defence Cooperation during the visit of Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to Sri Lanka in April 2025. This marks a qualitative shift in bilateral defence relations, opening avenues for greater coordination in maritime security, humanitarian assistance, and regional stability in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

India continues to be Sri Lanka’s largest trading partner and a leading development partner and investor. Indian investments and lines of credit in priority sectors—including renewable energy, petroleum infrastructure, ports, logistics, railways, digital public infrastructure, banking, and tourism—are aligned with Sri Lanka’s development priorities and economic stabilisation efforts. Cooperation in energy connectivity, including grid interconnection and petroleum pipeline initiatives, along with port and maritime collaboration, reflects a strategic commitment to regional integration.

Cooperation in culture, education, health, capacity-building, and community development continues to reinforce the enduring people-to-people bonds of the partnership.

The One-Day conference is designed to harness the current momentum in bilateral ties between India and Sri Lanka, leveraging their rich history of engagement to chart innovative and evidence-based pathways for enhanced economic cooperation. The event will convene policymakers, scholars, business leaders, and development practitioners to deliberate on strategic avenues for expanding trade, investment, connectivity, and development cooperation. Anchored in Sri Lanka's development aspirations and India’s Viksit Bharat @2047 vision, the conference ultimately seeks to advance a resilient, inclusive, and future-oriented partnership grounded in shared prosperity and regional peace.