A high-level delegation from the Ministry of Mines, Government of India, accompanied by representatives from leading Indian public sector mining companies, visited Sri Lanka from May 20 to 22, 2025, to explore avenues for collaboration in the island nation’s mineral and mining sector.
During the three-day visit, the delegation met Minister of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development, Sunil Handunnetti, and held discussions with key stakeholders, including the heads of Sri Lanka’s major State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) in the sector—Kahatagaha Graphite Lanka Ltd., Lanka Mineral Sands Ltd., the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau (GSMB), and Lanka Phosphate Ltd. The delegation also engaged with the Director General of the Board of Investment (BOI) and other senior Government officials.
The discussions focused on identifying potential investment opportunities, promoting technical cooperation in advanced mining technologies, and initiating joint ventures for value addition within Sri Lanka’s mineral industry.
This visit marks a follow-up to a bilateral meeting held earlier this year on February 15 in New Delhi between Union Minister of State for Coal and Mines of India, Shri Satish Chandra Dubey, and Minister Handunnetti.
A subsequent virtual meeting between the Ministries’ Secretaries was held on March 10 to advance discussions.
As part of their visit, the Indian delegation also toured key mining sites across Sri Lanka to gain first-hand insights into the country’s mineral resource landscape and operational practices.
