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Presidential
Elec. held in overall peaceful environment - EU
Russia, China, Japan, Korea, Bangladesh,
Bhutan congratulate President |
The
European
Union
congratulated
President
Mahinda
Rajapaksa
on his
victory
at the
recently
concluded
Presidential
Election
and
stated
that it
was held
in an
overall
peaceful
environment
"The EU
welcomes
that the
Presidential
Elections
in Sri
Lanka,
the
first
election
of this
kind for
many
years,
took
place in
an
overall
peaceful
environment.
The
large
turn out
demonstrates
the wish
of the
Sri
Lankan
people
to
participate
fully in
the
democratic
process,"
said the
EU High
Representative
issuing
a
statement.
The EU
further
stated
that it
stands
ready to
work
with the
President
and his
Government
in
support
of his
objective
of
bringing
sustainable
peace to
all
people
in Sri
Lanka
and
actively
engaging
in an
inclusive
process
of
national
reconciliation.
"The EU
looks
forward
to
continuing
and
reinforcing
its
cooperation
with Sri
Lanka,
with a
view to
consolidating
the
relationship
on the
basis of
shared
values
and
common
interests."
the
statement
further
said.
Russia,
China,
Japan,
Korea,
Bangladesh
and Bhutan
also
congratulated
President Mahinda
Rajapaksa
on his
victory
and
assured
him
their
commitment
to
further
deepen
mutual
relations
with Sri
Lanka.
Russian
President
Dimitri
Medvedev
in a
special
congratulatory
message
said he
was
confident
that the
Sri
Lankan
President
would
succeed
in
developing
his
country.
He
expressed
confidence
that the
political
and
social
issues
mentioned
by
President
Rajapaksa
in his
manifesto
could be
resolved
without
any
obstacles.
Russia
and Sri
Lanka
have
maintained
close
and
friendly
ties for
more
than 50
years.
The
Russian
President
expressed
optimism
these
ties
would
become
stronger
in the
coming
years.
Congratulating
President
Mahinda
Rajapaksa
on his
re-election,
President
of the
People's
Republic
of
China,
Hu
Jintao
stated
in a
message
that the
two
countries
are
traditional
friendly
close
neighbors
who
treat
each
other
equally
and
enjoy
mutual
trust.
The two
countries
have
mutually
beneficial
cooperation
on the
basis of
the Five
Principles
of
Peaceful
Co-existence,
the
Chinese
President
said.
President
Hu
Jintao
further
stated
that
China
attaches
great
importance
to the
China -
Sri
Lanka
relations.
"I wish
to make
joint
efforts
with
Your
Excellency
to
promote
the All-
round
Cooperative
Partnership
Featuring
Sincere
Mutual
Support
and
Everlasting
Friendship
to a new
level.
The
Prime
Minister
of
Bhutan
in his
message
states,
"the
people
of Sri
Lanka
have
expressed
their
appreciation
and
gratitude
to your
courage,
wisdom
and
sacrifices".
He
further
states
that
Bhutan
looks
forward
to
working
closely
with
President
Mahinda
Rajapaksa
in the
promotion
of
mutually
beneficial
relations
between
the two
countries
in the
years
ahead.
The
President
of Korea
stated
in a
message
that the
renewed
mandate
is a
testimony
that the
President
has
brought
Sri
Lanka
into an
era of
development
and
harmony.
"I have
every
confidence
that
your
country
will
achieve
greater
prosperity
under
your
distinguished
leadership
in the
years to
come",
the
Korean
President
further
stated
and
emphazised
that
Korea
looks
forward
to work
closely
with
President
Rajapaksa
strengthening
friendly
ties and
cooperation
between
the two
countries.
The
Japanese
government
said in
a
statement
that it
hopes
the
Government
of Sri
Lanka
will
swiftly
complete
the
resettlement
of
internally-displaced
persons,
which
has made
progress
since
last
October,
and that
the
people
of Sri
Lanka
will
unite to
reconstruct
the
economy.
The
press
release
also
stated
that
under
the
leadership
of
President
Rajapaksa,
the
Government
of Sri
Lanka
will
steadily
and
swiftly
carry
forward
political
processes
for
national
reconciliation.
Meanwhile,
Bangladesh
President
Seelur
Rahaman
has also
sent a
congratulatory
message
to the
President
for
being
re-elected.
The
President
of
Bangladesh
in the
message
stated
that Sri
Lankans
have
expressed
their
gratitude
for the
security
and
freedom
that
President
Rajapaksa
has
given
them
during
his
first
tenure.
President
Seelur
Rahaman
assured
his Sri
Lankan
counterpart
that
Bangladesh
will
extend
the
fullest
support
for his
vision
of
ensuring
a bright
future
for Sri
Lanka.
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