Gotabaya takes oath, vows to maintain friendly ties with all

COLOMBO:Sri Lanka’s newly elected President Gotabaya Rajapaksa delivered a measured speech on Monday at his swearing-in ceremony, saying his country will maintain friendly ties with all nations and remain neutral in matters involving international powers so as to stay out of conflicts.

Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa greets people at a Buddhist temple in Anuradhapura. AFP

Colombo, November 18

Sri Lanka’s newly elected President Gotabaya Rajapaksa delivered a measured speech on Monday at his swearing-in ceremony, saying his country will maintain friendly ties with all nations and remain neutral in matters involving international powers so as to stay out of conflicts.

The 70-year-old controversial wartime defence secretary’s statement is of importance as Sri Lanka has historically been an important commercial hub along the maritime routes due to its strategic position in the Indian Ocean, where China is increasingly making its inroads, raising concerns in India.

Rajapaksa’s swearing-in ceremony took place at the Ruwanweli Seya, a stupa and a hemispherical structure containing relics and considered sacred to Buddhists, in Anuradhapura, 200 km from Colombo.

In his first address to the nation, Rajapaksa said Sri Lanka will remain friendly with all nations but would remain neutral so as to stay out of conflicts between international powers, Sri Lankan news outlet News First reported. He promised to make national security one of the priorities of his government as the country is coming to terms with the Easter Sunday terror attacks that killed 269 persons. “We will rebuild the state security machineries to secure the country from terrorism, underworld activities, robbers, extortionists.” — Agencies

China for ‘greater progress’

China on Monday congratulated Gotabaya Rajapaksa on his election as the new Sri Lankan President, saying that it is ready to work with him for “greater progress” in bilateral strategic ties and ensure “high-quality” projects under the Belt and Road Initiative.

Snap poll on the cards?

Sri Lanka faces the prospect of a snap parliamentary poll after Gotabaya Rajapaksa took over as the President on Monday, sources in the ruling United National Party (UNP) said. The outgoing government's parliamentary group is to meet soon to discuss the way forward. “This would mean opting for a fresh election,” a source said.