PM Modi congratulates Rajapaksa, says bilateral ties will strengthen further under his presidency

Rajapaksa is set to serve as the President of Sri Lanka after ruling party candidate Sajith Premadasa conceded defeat in the hotly contested presidential poll on Sunday.

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday congratulated Gotabaya Rajapaksa on his victory in the recently concluded Sri Lankan Presidential elections and expressed confidence that the fraternal, cultural, historical and civilizational ties between India and Sri Lanka would further be strengthened under his presidency.

Modi conveyed good wishes to Rajapaksa on behalf of him and the people of India and expressed confidence that the Sri Lankans would progress further on the path of peace and prosperity under his leadership.

"Conveying the good wishes on behalf of the people of India and on his own behalf, PM Modi expressed confidence that under the able leadership of Mr. @GotabayaR the people of Sri Lanka will progress further on the path of peace and prosperity," PMO India tweeted.

• Conveying the good wishes on behalf of the people of India and on his own behalf, PM Modi expressed confidence that under the able leadership of Mr. @GotabayaR the people of Sri Lanka will progress further on the path of peace and prosperity.

  — PMO India (@PMOIndia) November 17, 2019 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="

  Conveying the good wishes on behalf of the people of India and on his own behalf, PM Modi expressed confidence that under the able leadership of Mr. @GotabayaR the people of Sri Lanka will progress further on the path of peace and prosperity.

  — PMO India (@PMOIndia) November 17, 2019

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  Conveying the good wishes on behalf of the people of India and on his own behalf, PM Modi expressed confidence that under the able leadership of Mr. @GotabayaR the people of Sri Lanka will progress further on the path of peace and prosperity.

  — PMO India (@PMOIndia) November 17, 2019

Rajapaksa thanked Modi for his good wishes and also expressed his readiness to work with India very closely to ensure development and security. He also accepted the invitation extended by Prime Minister Modi to visit India at his early convenience.

• Mr. @GotabayaR thanked PM @narendramodi for his good wishes. He also expressed his readiness to work with India very closely to ensure development and security.

  — PMO India (@PMOIndia) November 17, 2019 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="

  Mr. @GotabayaR thanked PM @narendramodi for his good wishes. He also expressed his readiness to work with India very closely to ensure development and security.

  — PMO India (@PMOIndia) November 17, 2019

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  Mr. @GotabayaR thanked PM @narendramodi for his good wishes. He also expressed his readiness to work with India very closely to ensure development and security.

  — PMO India (@PMOIndia) November 17, 2019

Rajapaksa is set to serve as the President of Sri Lanka after ruling party candidate Sajith Premadasa conceded defeat in the hotly contested presidential poll on Sunday.

Rajapaksa, a former defence secretary and brother of two-time former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, based his campaign around providing strong leadership on national security issues following coordinated bombings in April that killed at least 269 people.