Colombo, May 13 (Agency) Indian High Commission in Colombo on Friday met newly-appointed Sri Lankan PM Ranil Wickremesinghe and discussed cooperation on country’s economic recovery and maintaining stability through democratic processes. “High Commissioner called on PM Ranil. Conveyed greetings and good wishes. Discussed continued cooperation for economic recovery and stability in Sri Lanka through democratic processes towards the well being of all the people of Sri Lanka,” the Indian embassy in Colombo said in a tweet. On Thursday, United National Party (UNP) leader and five-time PM Ranil was sworn in for the sixth time to lead Sri Lanka, as the island nation grapples with an unprecedented economic and political crisis. Following the swearing-in of new PM, the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka had expressed hope for political stability in the island nation and said it looks forward to working with the new government under PM Ranil.
The embassy also said that India’s commitment to the people of Sri Lanka will continue. “High Commission of India hopes for political stability and looks forward to working with the Government of Sri Lanka formed in accordance with democratic processes pursuant to the swearing in of Ranil as the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka. India’s commitment to the people of Sri Lanka will continue,” it said. The PM slot had fallen vacant after Mahinda Rajapaksa, brother of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, stepped down from his post on May 9 amid a deepening economic crisis, the worst in the country since independence in 1948, and hours after an island-wide curfew was imposed following violence in the capital Colombo.