Colombo: After taking over as Sri Lanka’s new Prime Minister in the midst of a nationwide crisis, Ranil Wickremesinghe has said that he looks forward to closer ties with India during his term and thanked India for its economic assistance to the island nation as it tackles the worst economic crisis since independence.
Ranil Wickremesinghe was sworn-in as Sri Lanka’s 26th Prime Minister on Thursday to stabilise the country’s debt-ridden economy and end the political turmoil.
“I want a closer relationship and I want to thank Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi,” Prime Minister Wickremesinghe said, referring to the Indian economic assistance to his country.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- Ranil Wickremesinghe takes oath as 26th Prime Minister of Sri Lanka
- Reportedly, District Attorney General on Tuesday ordered an investigation into the incident of violence between anti-government and pro-government protestors on Monday.
- With the growing instances of violence in Sri Lanka, the United States and European Union voiced their concern over the deep crisis in the island nation.
- Amid the nationwide curfew, large groups of protestors violated the strict curfew norms and carried out protests at major sites across the country.
- According to the Colombo National Hospital, around 217 people were injured during the violent incident.