New Sri Lankan PM Wickremesinghe thanks India

Sri Lanka's newly-appointed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has called on the Indian Ambassador to Sri Lanka Gopal Baglay on his first day at the Prime Minister's Office in Colombo.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe thanked Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for providing financial assistance to Sri Lanka in an economic crisis situation.

"The relations with India will be much better, I want to thank India and the Prime Minister for helping Sri Lanka," Wickremesinghe during a temple visit after the oath in Colombo on May 12.

The new Prime Minister on May 13 met Indian Ambassador to Sri Lanka Gopal Baglay after assuming the office and discusses democratic relations as well as cooperation between the two countries.

"High Commissioner called on Hon'ble PM @RW_UNP. Conveyed greetings and good wishes. Discussed continued cooperation for economic recovery and stability in #SriLanka through democratic processes towards the well being of all the people of Sri Lanka," Indian embassy in Sri Lanka tweeted.

Wickremesinghe, the leader of the United National Party (UNP) of Sri Lanka, took over as the country's Prime Minister for a record sixth term on May 12 to restore stability in the island nation in the midst of a political impasse and unprecedented economic crisis.

"I have taken a challenge for uplifting economic and I must fulfill," he said.
Sri Lanka is facing its worst economic crisis since independence with food and fuel shortages, soaring prices and power cuts affecting a large number of the people, resulting in massive protests over the government's handling of the situation.

(ANI)