Looking forward to closer ties with India: Sri Lanka PM

Colombo, May 13

Sri Lanka’s new Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has said he looks forward to closer ties with India during his term and thanked India for its economic assistance to the country as it tackles the worst economic crisis since independence.

China reacts guardedly to new appointment

Beijing: China, one of the largest creditors of Sri Lanka, on Friday reacted warily to the appointment of Ranil Wickramasinghe as the country’s Prime Minister succeeding pro-Beijing Mahinda Rajapaksa, saying it supports the government’s efforts to sustain stability in the face of chaos. PTI

Wickremesinghe, 73, was sworn-in as Sri Lanka’s 26th prime minister on Thursday to stabilise the country’s debt-ridden economy and end the political turmoil. “I want a closer relationship and I want to thank Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi,” Wickremesinghe said, referring to the Indian economic assistance to his country.

His remarks came during a religious ceremony held here last night after he took the oath. India has committed more than USD 3 billion to debt-ridden Sri Lanka in loans, credit lines and credit swaps since January this year.

India on Thursday said it looked forward to working with the Sri Lankan government. Wickremesinghe said his focus was limited to tackling the economic crisis. “I want to settle this problem to ensure the supply of petrol, diesel and electricity to the people,” he said. He warned that the worst economic crisis that has brought unrest in the nation is “going to get worse before it gets better.”