China, UK and Japan among countries wishing new President

Congratulatory wishes continued to pour in yesterday as President Gotabaya Rajapaksa took oaths in Anuradhapura with China, Japan, UK, Australia and Iran expressed interest in forging close ties with the new Head of State and deepening relations with Sri Lanka.  

China congratulated President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on winning the Presidential Election to become Sri Lanka’s new President.

“China feels happy for Sri Lanka on smoothly holding the Presidential Election and completing the major domestic political agendas, and extends its heartfelt congratulations to Gotabaya Rajapaksa on winning presidency,” said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang at a routine press briefing.

While hailing China and Sri Lanka as strategic cooperative partners featuring sincere, mutual assistance and lasting friendship, Geng said that China is willing to work with Sri Lanka’s new leadership and Government to jointly carry out the Belt and Road construction with high quality, on the basis of mutual respect, equality, and mutual benefit, so as to achieve new progress in development of bilateral ties and bring more tangible benefits to the two countries and two peoples, Chinese news agency Xinhua reported. 

Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was one of the first heads of State to send a congratulatory message to Gotabaya Rajapaksa, stating that he intends to further develop the Japan-Sri Lanka relationship. 

Pakistan President Imran Khan extended his well-wishes on his official Twitter page, stating that he looks forward to working closely with President Rajapaksa. “Congratulations to Gotabaya Rajapaksa on victory in Sri Lankan Presidential Elections. Pakistan looks forward to working closely with him & with Sri Lanka, for further deepening & broadening our brotherly ties & close cooperation for peace, progress and prosperity of our people,” he tweeted.

UK Foreign Minister of State and Commonwealth, UN and South Asia Lord Tariq Ahmad of Wimbledon took to Twitter, congratulating President Rajapaksa and said he looked forward to working as commonwealth partner. “Congratulations to @GotabayaR on the result of the Presidential Election in #SriLanka. I look forward to the UK and Sri Lanka working together constructively as #Commonwealth partners ?k @SarahHultonFCO @ManishaGunasek2,” he tweeted.   

British High Commissioner to Colombo Sara Hulton also joined in by tweeting: “Congratulations to @GotabayaR on your election and the people of Sri Lanka on a more peaceful election period than ever.” 

“Australia welcomes the high voter turnout and historically peaceful day of polling for #SriLanka’s Presidential Election. We look forward to building on the strong Australia-Sri Lanka relationship,” tweeted Australian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka David Holly.  

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Abbas Mousavi in a communique congratulated Sri Lanka and the new President. “The Islamic Republic of Iran expresses its sincere congratulations to the Sri Lankan nation and the President-elect Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa on the peaceful and victorious Presidential Election, which was held with the participation of all walks of life.” He also hoped that the election of Rajapaksa would lead to the expansion of bilateral relations between the Iran and Sri Lanka.