Colombo: The US on Saturday congratulated
President Mahinda Rajapaksa for his party`s victory in Sri
Lankan parliamentary polls, hoping that the leader will now
move ahead on issues of ethnic and national reconciliation.
Congratulating Rajapaksa for the success of his United
People`s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) coalition in the polls, the
US government termed it as an history victory.
"The US congratulates President Rajapaksa and for
their historic victory in the first nationwide parliamentary
election in decades," a US embassy release said here.
This victory, coupled with the President`s win in
January`s contest, provides a mandate to move forward on the
important issues the President discussed during the campaign,
it said.
This involved "national and ethnic reconciliation,
decentralising power, economic development, and securing human
rights," it added.
"We look forward to working with the newly elected
Sri Lankan government and hope to strengthen the historical
ties of friendship and cooperation between our nations," the
release said.
PTI
