Colombo, April 5 -- Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Saturday assured Prime Minister Narendra Modi that his country would not allow its soil to be used in ways that could compromise India's security interests, a commitment aimed at easing New Delhi's concerns over growing Chinese influence in the region.

The assurance came during bilateral talks focused on deepening cooperation in defence, energy and trade.

China's extensive investments in Sri Lanka, including large-scale infrastructure projects, have sparked worries in India over potential threats to regional stability and sovereignty.

Defence and energy deals sealed

In a major step forward, India and Sri Lanka signed their first-ever defence cooperation agreement fol...