New Delhi: India on Friday welcomed completion of a peaceful and democratic poll process in Sri Lanka and hoped that the new government will develop the country on the "foundation of genuine and effective reconciliation" creating harmony between all sections there.”
"Sri Lanka has a tradition of democratic change to peaceful elections. Our leadership has congratulated the people of Sri Lanka on completion of yet another peaceful polls.”
"India wishes them success in building peaceful and prosperous Sri Lanka on foundations of genuine and effective reconciliation which creates a climate of harmony between all sections of society," the External Affairs Ministry spokesperson said.
India has been pushing Sri Lanka to implement the 13th amendment in "letter and spirit" to meet aspirations of the ethnic Tamils there.
In one of the biggest political shake-up in Sri Lanka, opposition candidate Maithripala Sirisena today trounced President Mahinda Rajapaksa in the tightest-ever presidential race, ending his nearly a decade-long rule.
Indian High Commissioner Yash Sinha was among the first ones to call on Sirisena, who had invited the Indian envoy to attend the swearing-in.
After the new leadership, the initial impression given by the experts here is that the change may be be good for India given the early responses of Sirisena, who has not been very enthusiastic over China's increasing influence over the island nation.
However, on ethnic Tamils issue, the officials feel that there will not be much change in the policy of Lankan government as Sirisena has already made it clear that he would not go soft on Tamil hardliners or withdraw the army from the north in exchange for their support in presidential election.
"I have no intention of withdrawing the army from the north. As president, national security will be my responsibility," Sirisena had said.
