Leader of the Opposition in Sri Lankan Parliament Calls on President

Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe, Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, Sri Lanka paid a courtesy call on President Pranab Mukherjee at Rashtrapati Bhavan on April 3, 2013.

The President said India-Sri Lanka bilateral relationship is based on shared historical, cultural and ethnic ties as well as extensive people-to-people interaction. It has always been close and cordial. As a neighbour with thousands of years of close ties, India has a natural interest in Sri Lanka. People of India cannot remain untouched by developments in Sri Lanka.

The President said India has always felt that the end of the conflict in Sri Lanka provided a unique opportunity to pursue lasting political settlement, acceptable to all communities. Sri Lanka must seize the opportunity for genuine national reconciliation and move ahead.

Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe warmly reciprocated the President’s words.

This release issued at 1825 hrs.