Sri Lanka's new President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has said that he does not want to be sandwiched between India and China. In an interview given to Monocle magazine, Anura said that Sri Lanka does not want to get involved in any global political battle.
We will neither participate in any kind of competition nor support any country fighting for supremacy. President said, both countries are our good friends, I hope our partnership will be good in future.
Dissanayake said, he will maintain good relations with European Union (EU), Middle East and Africa. Sri Lanka's foreign policy will be impartial.
After taking oath, the new President Anura visited a Buddhist temple. (Photo – AFP)
Sri Lanka is a country where banks have become corrupt
Dissanayake was sworn in as the President yesterday. In the 2022 post-economic crisis election in Sri Lanka, he won by more than 1 million votes over his rival Sajith Premadasa. While the former President of Sri Lanka stood at the third position.
Dissanayake said that Sri Lanka is a country where banks have become corrupt. We have a debt of more than 28 lakh crore rupees. My priority is to solve the economic crisis of the country. Apart from India and China, Sri Lanka's new president has also received congratulations from Pakistan and Maldives.
On 23 April 2024, Anura met Sun Haiyan, Vice-Minister of the International Party of the Chinese Communist Party.
From rebellion to power: Anura relaunched the party 5 years ago and rose to the post of president
Anura, who hails from Thambutegama in the North Central Province, graduated in science from the University of Kelaniya, Colombo. He joined the JVP in 1987, when the anti-India revolt was at its peak. The party staged two bloody revolts.
Anura became the party chief in 2014. In 2019, JVP changed its name to NPP. Anura came to New Delhi in February 2024 on the invitation of the Government of India. He Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar and met National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.
In the meeting, Anura discussed strengthening bilateral relations. Jaishankar emphasized that India will always be Sri Lanka's reliable friend and reliable partner.
After returning from India, Anura insisted that the high-level meetings held with India should not be interpreted as a change in our party's 'political and economic policy'. We can gain a lot from India in areas like information technology. We hope to bring change in the country. In such a situation we need international support. We cannot remain as an isolated country, we need to strengthen international relations.
On February 5, 2024 in New Delhi, Anura Dissanayake met the Indian External Affairs Minister S. met Jaishankar.
Leaders of Wickramasinghe and Rajapakse parties left the country
With the announcement of election results in Sri Lanka, many politicians and Buddhist monks from the party of Rajapaksa and Wickremesinghe left the country from the Colombo airport. Former minister Susantha Panchinilam left for Chennai on Saturday, a senior official said.
Meanwhile, United National Party General Secretary Palitha Bandara left for Thailand on Saturday night. Ittekande Saddatisa left for Hong Kong on Sunday. Before this, Mahida Rajapaksa's brother and former finance minister Basil Rajapaksa left on Friday.
Image Credit: (Divya-Bhaskar): Images/graphics belong to (Divya-Bhaskar).
