Japan to Donate 10 Surveillance Drones to Sri Lanka

Japan will provide 10 surveillance drones worth about ¥500 million ($3.36 million) to Sri Lanka’s navy, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announced after talks with Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in Tokyo on Monday.

This marks Japan’s first provision of defense equipment to Sri Lanka under its official security assistance program.

“The stability and development of Sri Lanka, which is located at a strategic point in the Indian Ocean, is extremely important,” Ishiba said at a joint news conference.

In response, President Dissanayake expressed his government’s commitment to building a peaceful and stable Indo-Pacific region.

Alongside the drone deal, both governments signed an agreement to support small dairy farmers in Sri Lanka. Tokyo will provide ¥463 million in grant aid for equipment to ferment and dry grass, aimed at boosting agricultural productivity.

Japan also proposed a road map to encourage Sri Lanka’s participation in global supply chains, which Colombo welcomed during the meeting.