Question 1

Sri Lanka's new leftist NPP government has halted all Indian renewable energy projects to favor Chinese investments.

Accepted Answer

The new government is actively expanding energy cooperation with India, as evidenced by the formal initiation of the 120 MW Sampur solar power plant in Trincomalee during this visit.

Question 2

The 'Mithra Vibhushana' is an ancient Sri Lankan royal honour dating back centuries.

Accepted Answer

It is a modern civilian award instituted in 2008 by then-President Mahinda Rajapaksa specifically to recognize extraordinary global friendships.

Question 3

Consider the following statements regarding PM Modi's April 2025 visit to Sri Lanka:
1. The 'Mithra Vibhushana' award conferred upon PM Modi is Sri Lanka's highest civilian honour, recently instituted by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
2. During the visit, India and Sri Lanka signed their first-ever formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on defence cooperation.
3. The 120 MW solar power project initiated with Indian assistance during the visit is located in the Hambantota district.

Accepted Answer

(a) Only one — Statement 1 is incorrect; the 'Mithra Vibhushana' was instituted in 2008 by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, not Dissanayake. Statement 2 is correct; this visit marked the signing of the first-ever formal defence MoU between the two nations. Statement 3 is incorrect; the 120 MW Sampur solar project is located in the Trincomalee district, not Hambantota. Therefore, only one statement is correct.

Question 4

Match the specific elements of the April 2025 India-Sri Lanka summit (List I) with their corresponding details (List II):

List I
A. Sampur Power Plant
B. Mithra Vibhushana
C. Anuradhapura
D. Independence Square

List II
1. Site where PM Modi received a ceremonial guard of honour
2. Location of the 120 MW solar project initiated during the visit
3. Highest civilian honour for foreign leaders featuring the Navarathna
4. Site of the historic Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi temple visited by both leaders

Accepted Answer

(a) A-2, B-3, C-4, D-1 — The Sampur Power Plant (A) is the 120 MW solar project in Trincomalee (2). The Mithra Vibhushana (B) is the highest civilian honour (3). Anuradhapura (C) is the historic city where the leaders visited the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi temple (4). Independence Square in Colombo (D) is where PM Modi received his guard of honour (1).

Question 5

Assertion (A): During the April 2025 state visit, India and Sri Lanka signed their first-ever formal Memorandum of Understanding on defence cooperation.
Reason (R): The 1974 international maritime boundary agreement explicitly mandates that India and Sri Lanka must formalize intelligence sharing mechanisms to resolve the Katchatheevu fishing dispute.

Accepted Answer

(c) A is true but R is false — Assertion (A) is true; the April 2025 visit did indeed feature the historic signing of the first defence MoU. Reason (R) is false; the 1974 agreement drew the International Maritime Boundary Line (ceding Katchatheevu to Sri Lanka) but does not contain any legal mandate for formal intelligence sharing or defence pacts. The recent defence MoU is driven by contemporary geopolitics under the SAGAR vision, not the 1974 agreement.

PM Modi's State Visit to Sri Lanka

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