PM Modi Congratulates Sri Lanka's New President Dissanayake: 'Look Forward To Working Closely'

India's High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Santosh Jha also called on President-elect Anura Kumara Dissanayake and conveyed greetings from India's leadership. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Sri Lanka's new President Anura Kumara Dissanayake after he secured over 42 per cent votes in the Saturday polls.

Modi noted Sri Lanka's special place in India's Neighbourhood First Policy and Vision SAGAR and said he looked forward to working closely with the new Sri Lankan leader. 

"Congratulations @anuradisanayake, on your victory in the Sri Lankan Presidential elections," Modi said in a post on X. 

"Sri Lanka holds a special place in India's Neighbourhood First Policy and Vision SAGAR. I look forward to working closely with you to further strengthen our multifaceted cooperation for the benefit of our people and the entire region," he added. 

Dissanayake thanked PM Modi for his message and said that he shares the latter's commitment to strengthening the ties between the two nation. "Thank you, Prime Minister Modi, for your kind words and support. I share your commitment to strengthening the ties between our nations. Together, we can work towards enhancing cooperation for the benefit of our peoples and the entire region," he said in response. 

India's High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Santosh Jha also called on President-elect Dissanayake and conveyed greetings from India's leadership. 

"HC @santjha called on Sri Lankan President-elect @anuradisanayake. Conveyed greetings from India’s leadership and congratulated him on winning the people’s mandate. India as Sri Lanka's civilisational twin is committed to further deepen ties for the prosperity of the people of our two countries," said the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka in a post on X.

The 55-year-old Marxist-leaning leader, Dissanayake is scheduled to be sworn in on Monday. He is the head of the Vimukthi Peremuna (JVP) party which is part of the National People's Power (NPP), an alliance that he leads. 

From a fringe leader whose party had only three seats in the Parliament, Dissanayake and his party paved its way to prominence during the 2022 mass protests. His pitch for tough anti-corruption measures and more pro-poor policies made him a popular choice. 

Sri Lanka held elections to elect its new president on Saturday for the first time since the mass protests in 2022 which led the then President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to resign from the post and flee the country.