Today, India’s High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Gopal Baglay meets with the newly appointed 26th Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Ranil Wickremesinghe in Colombo to discuss democratic relations as well as cooperation between the two countries.

On Thursday, Ranil Wickremesinghe,  a 73-year-old United National Party (UNP) leader took over as the new Prime Minister of Shri Lanka- the country currently engulfed in a political and economic crisis.

The development was welcomed by India which said it looks forward to working with the new government and reaffirmed its commitment to the Sri Lankan people.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa tweeted along with a picture of him and Wickremesinghe. “My best wishes to the newly appointed PM of #LKA, @RW_UNP, who stepped up to take on the challenging task of steering our country through a very turbulent time. I look forward to working together with him to make Sri Lanka strong again,”

My best wishes to the newly appointed PM of #LKA, @RW_UNP, who stepped up to take on the challenging task of steering our country through a very turbulent time. I look forward to working together with him to make Sri Lanka 🇱🇰 strong again. pic.twitter.com/ysIZGH3wfA

— Gotabaya Rajapaksa (@GotabayaR) May 12, 2022

High Commissioner called on Hon’ble PM and Conveyed greetings and good wishes and Discussed continued   cooperation for economic recovery and stability in #SriLanka through democratic processes towards the well-being of all the people of Sri Lanka.

High Commissioner called on Hon’ble PM @RW_UNP. Conveyed greetings and good wishes. Discussed continued 🇮🇳🇱🇰 cooperation for economic recovery and stability in #SriLanka through democratic processes towards the well being of all the people of 🇱🇰. pic.twitter.com/XJur9hGLtw

— India in Sri Lanka (@IndiainSL) May 13, 2022

Wickremesinghe said that he has taken the road uphill to improve the country’s economy, reports ANI. “I have taken a challenge for uplifting economic and I must fulfill,” he said.

Sri Lanka is already facing its dreadful economic crisis since independence. There are shortages of food and fuel, price hikes, and electricity affecting a large number of the Sri Lankan population, resulting in massive protests over the government’s handling of the situation.

India has developed strong ties with the country and has become a more mutually beneficial partner to Sri Lanka.

In past India has aided Shri Lanka in various ways,  apart from assistance India delivered nano fertilizer to save Sri Lankan farmers during the pandemic and fertilizer chaos. ,

Now New Delgi has pledged nearly USD 3 billion in cash-strapped Colombo through currency swaps, credit lines for essential goods and repayment of loans since January 2022 to help Sri Lanka amid one of the worst economic crises in history.