Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar extended congratulations to Vijitha Herath on his re-appointment as Sri Lanka's Foreign Minister.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Jaishankar wrote, “Felicitations to Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka Vijitha Herath on his re-appointment,” expressing eagerness to strengthen the “historic bonds of friendship” and deepen the India-Sri Lanka partnership for mutual benefit.
Herath’s re-appointment follows a landslide victory by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s National People’s Power (NPP) coalition in the parliamentary elections. The coalition secured a two-thirds majority, winning 159 of 225 seats, enabling Dissanayake to ease austerity measures and address Sri Lanka’s economic crisis.
Dissanayake, elected president in September, had called for snap elections to secure a new mandate, as his coalition previously held just three parliamentary seats.
Jaishankar, who visited Sri Lanka in October, reaffirmed India’s commitment to advancing bilateral cooperation under its ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy and SAGAR outlook. He assured continued development assistance aligned with Sri Lanka’s priorities.
