28 Jan : President Pratibha Patil has congratulated her Sri Lankan counterpart Mahinda Rajapaksa on his re-election as the head of that country.
In her message, Patil said, “Please accept my heartiest congratulations on your electoral victory. I am confident that under your continued leadership, Sri Lanka will attain greater heights and find lasting peace.
“India and Sri Lanka share historically close and friendly relations. I wish to assure you of India’s commitment to further deepen our relations with Sri Lanka. We look forward to working with you, towards this end for the mutual benefit of our people.”
64-year-old incumbent Mahinda Rajapaska on Wednesday emerged victorious in the bitterly-fought and first post-LTTE era Presidential elections against former army chief Sarath Fonseka.
PM congratulates Rajapaksa
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has congratulated Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa on his re-election and expressed confidence that under his leadership the country would find lasting peace with all communities living with dignity and in harmony.
Singh, who telephoned Rajapaksa to congratulate him and sent him a message, said his success in the elections “is a reflection of the trust the people of Sri Lanka has reposed in him.”
“I am confident that under your leadership, Sri Lanka will find lasting peace where all communities can live with dignity and in harmony,” Singh said.
Noting that both India and Sri Lanka have a shared commitment to democratic values, he said “We have time-tested ties of friendship and cooperation. I look forward to working closely with you to further strengthen our close and multi-dimensional, bilateral relations in the coming years.”