PM Modi to travel to Thailand for the BIMSTEC summit, followed by a visit to Sri Lanka for discussions with President Dissanayake

New Delhi, Mar 28 ,2025 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to travel to Thailand to attend the 6th BIMSTEC Summit on April 4, followed by an official visit to Sri Lanka from April 4-6 for discussions with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

At the invitation of Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, PM Modi will visit Bangkok from April 3-4 to participate in the BIMSTEC Summit, hosted by Thailand as the current BIMSTEC Chair. Additionally, he will hold diplomatic engagements to strengthen bilateral cooperation.

This marks PM Modi’s third official visit to Thailand. The 6th BIMSTEC Summit will be the first in-person meeting of regional leaders since the 2018 Kathmandu Summit. The previous summit, held in March 2022 in Colombo, took place in a virtual format. The theme for this year’s summit is ‘BIMSTEC – Prosperous, Resilient and Open’, focusing on boosting regional collaboration, security, trade, investment, connectivity, and human development.

On the sidelines of the summit, PM Modi is expected to hold talks with the Thai Prime Minister on April 3 to review ongoing cooperation and explore new areas of partnership. India and Thailand share strong maritime, cultural, and historical ties.

Following his visit to Thailand, PM Modi will embark on a State Visit to Sri Lanka from April 4-6 at the invitation of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. The discussions will review progress on agreements outlined in the ‘Joint Vision for Fostering Partnerships for a Shared Future’ signed during the BIMSTEC President’s visit to India last year.

The Prime Minister will also engage with senior Sri Lankan leaders and dignitaries. Additionally, he will visit Anuradhapura to inaugurate development projects supported by Indian financial assistance.

PM Modi last visited Sri Lanka in 2019, while President Dissanayake’s first official trip abroad after taking office was to India in December 2024. The visit underscores India and Sri Lanka’s deep-rooted cultural and historical ties.

PM Modi’s participation in the 6th BIMSTEC Summit and his visits to Thailand and Sri Lanka reinforce India’s commitment to its ‘Neighbourhood First’ and ‘Act East’ policies, the MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) vision, and the broader Indo-Pacific strategy, the statement added.