Amid an uptick in ties with Sri Lanka, India's Ministry of Defence on Tuesday announced that New Delhi sent an Indian Navy warship to its southern neighbor that carried spare parts for the island nation's Air Force and Navy.
"Indian Navy's Fast Attack Craft INS Kabra arrived at Colombo, Sri Lanka on 08 Jan 24. In a presentation ceremony, essential spares and stores meant for the Sri Lanka Navy and Air Force were handed over by the ship," the MoD said in a statement.
The MoD further added that the Colombo visit of INS Kabra "strengthens the bilateral cooperation and camaraderie between the two Navies".
In September last year, Sri Lankan foreign minister Ali Sabry emphasized forging closer ties with India, underlining that it was New Delhi that stood by Colombo during its tough times.
"It is India who provided us with various forms of assistance worth 3.9 billion," Sabri said at the time.
Besides, India sent 270,000 MT of crude to the island nation as part of its assistance program to Sri Lanka during its power crisis in 2022.
In addition, New Delhi is helping Sri Lanka build a large-scale housing project in the northern part of the island.
Also, the world's largest democratic sovereign state is constructing railway lines worth $1 billion in Sri Lanka under an Indian Line of Credit.