Read what the new President of Sri Lanka said about India as soon as he took oath

Sri Lanka’s new President: Anura Kumara Dissanayake was sworn in as the ninth President of Sri Lanka on Monday morning. Dissanayake now has the big responsibility of bringing the country’s economy back on track and ending corruption. Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya administered the oath to Dissanayake (55) at the President’s Secretariat. After taking the oath of office, Dissanayake said that he would make every possible effort to start a new era of renaissance within the country. Votes were cast for the post of President in Sri Lanka on Saturday.

In the election results in Sri Lanka on Sunday, Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) party leader and National People’s Power (NPP) alliance candidate Disanayake was declared the winner. Disanayake defeated his closest rival ‘Samagi Jana Balawegaya’ (SJB)’s Sajith Premadasa. This is the first election after the massive mass movement in 2022 due to the economic crisis in the country. Gotabaya Rajapaksa was ousted in this mass movement. Disanayake, addressing the country for the first time after winning the election, thanked former President Ranil Wickremesinghe for respecting the mandate and peaceful transfer of power.

What did Sri Lanka say about India?
Dissanayake and his party are considered to be inclined towards China, for now the initial statements have been seen in favour of India. Dissanayake’s party has said that their country will not get involved in any kind of geopolitical rivalry, along with this they will not allow their country to be used against any other country. This statement is being seen as an assurance to India from Anura, because Anura Kumara Dissanayake is considered a friend of China.

India is a superpower- Sri Lanka
Dissanayake’s party spokesperson Bimal Ratnayake said in a statement that Sri Lankan territory will not be used against any other country. NPP National Executive Committee member Professor Anil Jayanthi said that India is definitely our important neighbor and superpower. India has its own importance. Sri Lanka’s strategic position in the Indian Ocean has increased its geopolitical relevance.

What did the Sri Lankan opposition say?
Hours before Dissanayake’s swearing-in, Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardene resigned from his post as part of the transfer of power in the country. Gunawardene (75) was the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka since July 2022. Gunawardene said in a letter addressed to Dissanayake that he is resigning from the post due to the election of a new President and he will create a favorable environment for the formation of a new cabinet. During the election, Dissanayake’s anti-corruption message and promise to change the political culture attracted young voters, who have been demanding a change in the political system since the economic crisis.

Read this also: Is Sri Lanka’s new President Anura Kumara Dissanayake a big threat to India? After Bangladesh, Pakistan, China, another neighbor will become a headache