COLOMBO, Sept. 9 -- India will "always stand firmly" with Sri Lanka whenever the island nation faces a crisis, Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Tuesday (8), as he began his maiden visit to Sri Lanka.

Addressing members of the Indian diaspora in Colombo, Singh said India and Sri Lanka shared deep cultural and civilizational ties that had provided a strong foundation for the growth of bilateral relations, and pledged, "India will always stand firmly with Sri Lanka whenever the island nation faces a crisis".

Singh, also known as the Raksha Mantri, highlighted India's economic transformation over the past decade. Describing the country as one of the world's fastest-growing major economies, he said India contributes more than 16...