President Rajapaksa Greets Prime Minister Narendra Modi

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Monday, 26 May 2014 13:45

Formal Felicitation Message of President Mahinda Rajapaksa to Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered today, is appended below:

His Excellency Narendra Modi

Prime Minister of the Republic of India

Excellency,

It gives me great pleasure to extend to you warmest congratulations personally and on behalf of the Government and the people of Sri Lanka, on your assumption of the High Office of the Prime Minister of the Republic of India.

The people of India have reposed their steadfast faith in you, and on your Party and its alliance partners, to preside over their destiny for the next five years with a strong and decisive mandate.

Your victory rewards your tireless commitment to serving the people of India. It recognizes your inspirational qualities of leadership and represents the hopes and aspirations of the Indian polity. In electing as their Prime Minister, the people of India have unambiguously chosen the path of change, development and effective leadership.

The decision of the people of India resonates across boundaries. India’s progress can, no doubt, enhance the region’s growth, development and security.

Excellency, India and Sri Lanka share a very special bond. Ties between our peoples span millennia. The benevolent gesture of Emperor Ashoka sending his son and daughter to Sri Lanka with the message of Gautama Buddha over two thousand three hundred years ago is celebrated in my country even today. The people of my country have protected this memory, the teachings and symbols for generations. Every year, while followers of Buddhism in my country travel to India in their thousands to pay homage to the sites associated with the life of Gautama Buddha, Sri Lankan followers of Hinduism too, in large numbers visit India to pray at many Hindu Temples. Similarly, the people of Sri Lanka look to our legendary history as symbols which unite our two countries in culture and tradition.

Today, we are united in our struggle against terrorism and nation building efforts. Our two countries enjoy a multifaceted relationship encompassing all areas of contemporary relevance and India has emerged as a pre-eminent partner in development and commercial activities across Sri Lanka.

I am confident that the warm and friendly relations that have long existed between our two countries will continue to be strengthened and consolidated under your able stewardship. I keenly look forward to working with you in close cooperation to realize this goal.

I convey to Your Excellency, my best wishes for your success and wellbeing and believe we will have the opportunity to meet on an early occasion.

Please accept, Your Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Mahinda Rajapaksa

President of Sri Lanka

May 26, 2014