United National Party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe was sworn in as the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka on Sunday, ending a 51-day power tussle in the island nation that had crippled the government.
Wickremesinghe was administered the oath of office by President Maithripala Sirisen at a simple ceremony held at the Presidential Secretariat.
His appointment comes hours after former strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was appointed Prime Minister by President Maithripala Sirisena, resigned on Saturday, paving way for the return of Wickremesinghe as premier.
President Sirisena had sacked Wickremesinghe on October 26, in a controversial move which plunged the island nation into an unprecedented constitutional crisis.
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Sirisena agreed to reinstate Minister Wickremesinghe in the post after a discussion with him over the phone on Friday.
After the development, MEA Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said. "As a close neighbour and true friend, India welcomes the resolution of the political situation in Sri Lanka. This is a reflection of the maturity demonstrated by all political forces, and also of the resilience of Sri Lankan democracy and its institutions."
He said India remains committed to taking forward its people-oriented development projects in Sri Lanka.
"We are confident that India-Sri Lanka relations will continue to move on an upward trajectory," he said.
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India on Sunday welcomed the end of the political impasse in Sri Lanka with Ranil Wickremesinghe being sworn in again as Prime Minister of the island nation.
"As a close neighbour and true friend, India welcomes the resolution of the political situation in Sri Lanka," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said in response to media queries.
"This is a reflection of the maturity demonstrated by all political forces, and also of the resilience of Sri Lankan democracy and its institutions.
"India remains committed to taking forward its people-oriented development projects in Sri Lanka. We are confident that India-Sri Lanka relations will continue to move on an upward trajectory," he added.
(With Agency Inputs)
