08:45⇢Modi Receives Sri Lanka's Highest Honor Amid Defense Deal
⌨The newspapers report extensively on PM Modi's visit to Sri Lanka, where he received the prestigious Mitra Vibhushana award, the country's highest honor (Aaj Tak, ABP Live, Dinamalar, Jagran). This marks Modi's 22nd international award. During the visit, India and Sri Lanka signed seven agreements, including their first-ever defense pact (India Today, NDTV, The Hindu, Zee News). Modi called Sri Lanka "not just a neighbor but a friend" and emphasized that the award honors all 140 crore Indians (ABP Live, Jagran). President Dissanayake assured that Sri Lanka won't allow its territory to be used against India's security interests (The Hindu).