Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe congratulated his new Indian counterpart, Droupadi Murmu, on assuming office as the 15th President of India.
"Your appointment to this chief responsibility in one of the largest democracies is a tribute to the trust and confidence the government and the people have placed in your calibre and political acumen," Wickremesinghe said in a statement. The Sri Lankan leader also mentioned the two countries' friendship and cooperation, and also New Delhi's assistance to Colombo in the aftermath of the island nation's ongoing economic crisis.
"India and Sri Lanka have warm and long-standing relations that stem from people-to-people interactions over millennia, and I am pleased that the time-tested bonds of friendship between the two nations are being reinforced through ever-increasing cooperation and support in many spheres of strategic interests that we share."
"Your leadership gives new impetus to our combined efforts to foster and strengthen the friendly ties we share, and I look forward to working closely with you toward that goal." "Please accept, Excellency, my highest congratulations," Wickremesinghe said.
Faced with the worst economic crisis since its independence in 1948, Sri Lanka has received from India the biggest support that would have provided by any individual country.
Since January of this year, India has provided over USD 3.5 billion in financial assistance, in addition to vital supplies such as food, medicine, and fertiliser.
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