Srilanka

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among world leaders to congratulate Gotabaya Rajapaksa soon after his historic presidential election victory at the polls held on November 16.Tweeting his message, Modi said, &I look forward to working closely with you for deepening the close and fraternal ties between our two countries and citizens, and for peace, prosperity as well as security in our region.&He also congratulated Sri Lankans for successfully conducting elections.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said, &We applaud the people of Sri Lanka on their democratic election and stand ready to work with them and the President to uphold Sri Lankacommitments on security sector reform, accountability and respect for human rights.&

Pakistani President Dr. Arif Alvi expressed his ‘immense pleasure& in congratulating the newly elected president. &We hope to continue working with you for the betterment of our people and to advance our shared interests of regional peace, stability and prosperity,& he said.

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan tweeted, &Congratulations to Gotabaya Rajapaksa on victory in Sri Lankan Presidential elections. Pakistan looks forward to working closely with him and with Sri Lanka, for further deepening and broadening our brotherly ties and close cooperation for peace, progress and prosperity of our people.&

Releasing a statement, the Pakistani Government stated, &Pakistan appreciates the conduct of a free, fair and peaceful election by the Election Commission and the Government of Sri Lanka. The leadership of Pakistan looks forward to working with the new President and his team to further strengthen the already strong relationship between the two countries. The Government of Pakistan expresses the resolve to further fortify the fraternal ties and to take this vital partnership to a new level.&

Meanwhile, Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih also expressed his keenness in working with President Rajapaksa‘new administration& to further develop ‘fraternal ties& between the two island nations.Former Maldivian President Mohamed Waheed also expressed his congratulations. Wishing the country peace and progress, he congratulated both President Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulating President Rajapaksa said, &it definitely meets the fundamental interests of our people and is in line with strengthening the regional stability and security.&He added, &I hope that your activities as Head of State will foster further development of the bilateral dialogue and constructive cooperation in various aspects.&

U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka and the Maldives Alaina B. Teplitz said, &we look forward to working with President-elect Rajapaksa on issues of good governance, economic growth, the advancement of human rights and reconciliation in support of a strong, sovereign Sri Lanka.&

President of Nepal K P Sharma Oli also sent his warm regards stating that he was looking forward to working closely with President Rajapaksa to further strengthen historically warm multidimensional ties between his country and Sri Lanka.

The European Union said, &We congratulate President Rajapaksa and look forward to working with him to uphold Sri Lankacommitments to implement international conventions on fundamental rights and to continue efforts aimed at improving governance, human rights and reconciliation&.

Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed his wish to start a new chapter of China-Sri Lanka Strategic Cooperative Partnership and to bring more tangible benefits to the people of both nations.

&On behalf of the Chinese Government, people and in my own name, I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to you,& he said in a statement, adding that the two nations have maintained traditional and friendly relations which have stood the test of changing global arena and become more vivid and vital.

&I attach great importance to the development of our bilateral relations and wish to work together with you to enhance our political mutual trust, docking our development visions and deepen our practical cooperation within the framework of the ‘Belt and Road Initiative&, to start a new chapter of China-Sri Lanka Strategic Cooperative Partnership and to bring more tangible benefits to our two peoples,& he said.

&Afghanistan and Sri Lanka have had notable achievements in developing friendly, bilateral relations. However, more potential exists to be realised in bolstering ties between our two nations,& Afghanistan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani said in his congratulatory message to President Rajapaksa.

He said he looks forward to working with Sri Lanka to expand the ‘bilateral and multilateral cooperation&.

Messages from prominent personalities

All Party British Sri Lanka Parliamentary Group President Lord Naseby PC in a statement said, &I wish to congratulate Sri Lanka on successfully holding a nationwide election in peace with a high turnout of voters for the new Executive President. I am delighted that Gotabaya Rajapaksa was successful. No one should forget that it was his leadership that saved Sri Lanka from the onslaught of Terrorism by the Tamil Tigers.

&Indeed he was in effect Sri LankaChurchill by providing leadership and inspiration to the whole nation of Sri Lanka. The new President now has the opportunity to re-establish Sri Lanka as a dynamic creative economy with his proven leadership. &I wish him all possible success. I hope the Western world will ignore the howls of protest from the LTTE-influenced diaspora. The new President needs time to sort out the difficult economic landscape left by the former Government, made even more difficult by the Easter bombings. I know Gotabaya to be a man who will act fairly and try very hard to look after all the minorities particularly the Muslims and Tamils.

&This election of Gotabaya Rajapaksa is potentially a ground-breaking moment for all Sri Lankans.

I wish him all possible success. I shall do my very best to help him, his team and Sri Lanka as a country.&

Senior Indian politician Subramanian Swamy said President Rajapaksa is a ‘decisive and a clear sighted person& and that his election was ‘good for India&.

The newly appointed Ministers are expected to ‘hit the ground running& as they begin their duties from this week, in accordance with the direction given by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and, not indulge in fanfare and cultivation of loyalties, the ‘Sunday Observer& learns. The fifteen-member Cabinet of Ministers start work on a tight leash with strict rules about staff appointments and a strong ‘no-no& on extravagant expenditure. Ministers of State are expected to be appointed in the course of tomorrow, according to government sources.