Thaindian News

New Delhi, Jan 27 (IANS) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Wednesday called up Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa for his re-election and said he was confident that under him “the country would find lasting peace.”
“The prime minister called him (Rajapaksa) up and congratulated him over his victory,” an official at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) told IANS.

In his message, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said: “Please accept my heartiest felicitations on your re-election as the President of Sri Lanka.”

“Your excellency’s success in the elections is a reflection of the trust the people of Sri Lanka have reposed in you. I am confident that, under your leadership, Sri Lanka will find lasting peace, where all communities can live with dignity and in harmony,” he said.

Noting that the two countries have “shared commitment to democratic values”, the prime minister said that “we have time tested ties of friendship and cooperation.”

“I look forward to working closely with you to further strengthen our close and multi-dimensional bilateral relations in the coming years. Please accept, excellency, my best wishes for your good health and personal well being and for the continued progress and prosperity of the friendly people of Sri Lanka,” prime minister said in his message.

Rajapaksa, who defied the odds to vanquish the Tamil Tigers last year, was Wednesday re-elected Sri Lankan president with a thumping majority as the opposition cried foul and main challenger retired army chief Gen Sarath Fonseka found himself under siege with his hotel surrounded by the army.

Rajapaksa defeated the former army chief by a handsome margin. Rajapaksa won 5.5 million votes, or 57.81 percent of the total vote, while Fonseka got 40.21 percent, according to a tally of the results announced so far.