• Sajith advocates for India’s membership in the UN SC

During a telephone conversation, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited President Ranil Wickremesinghe to his swearing-in due to be held this weekend, which the latter has accepted, the Presidential Media Division said in a statement.

Modi and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) won the highest number of seats in the recent Lok Sabha Election.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe also congratulated Modi on NDA’s victory and re-Election for the third term. “I extend my warmest felicitations to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led NDA on its victory, demonstrating the confidence of the Indian people in the progress and prosperity under the leadership of Modi. As the closest neighbour, Sri Lanka looks forward to further strengthening the partnership with India,” President Wickremesinghe posted on social media. President Wickremesinghe also spoke with Modi over the phone and congratulated him on his historic electoral victory. 

Modi posted in response: “Thank you President Wickremesinghe. I look forward to our continued cooperation on the India-Sri Lanka economic partnership.” Modi thanked President Wickremesinghe for his warm wishes. He conveyed India’s continued commitment to building stronger ties between India and Sri Lanka in keeping with India’s neighbourhood first policy and the Security and Growth for All in the Region vision. 

The two leaders also noted the significant progress that has taken place in implementing the vision document issued during the visit of President Wickremesinghe to New Delhi in July of last year (2023). In particular, both leaders reiterated their commitment to accelerate the progress in enhancing connectivity in all its dimensions for catalysing mutual growth, development and prosperity.

Congratulating Modi for the BJP led NDA’s ‘historic’ achievement of securing three consecutive victories in the Lok Sabha Elections, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa on Wednesday (5) reaffirmed support for India’s permanent membership in the United Nations Security Council (UN SC). Making a special speech in the Parliament, Premadasa emphasised that India, with its status as the world’s most populous country and a significant global economic and military power, deserves this recognition. “We have seen the brotherly neighbourhood relationship between the two countries as India is the largest single donor to Sri Lanka with around United States Dollars 6 billion in grants, loans and financial support,” noted Premadasa. 

(The Hindu/the Indo-Asian News Service)