Colombo: As Sri Lankan acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe was on Wednesday elected as the eighth executive President of Sri Lanka, India rejected as “baseless and purely speculative“ media reports alleging efforts to influence the elections.
The Indian High Commission in Colombo also said that India as a close neighbour and friend will continue to be supportive of the quest of the people of Sri Lanka for stability and economic recovery.
The Indian High Commission said in tweets: “The Parliament of Sri Lanka, in exercise of the provisions of the Sri Lankan Constitution, has today elected H.E. Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe as the President of Sri Lanka.
“As a close friend and neighbour of Sri Lanka and a fellow democracy, we will continue to be supportive of the quest of the people of Sri Lanka for stability and economic recovery, through democratic means and values, established democratic institutions and constitutional framework.”
Rejecting allegations of trying to influence the elections, the High Commission said: “We have seen baseless and purely speculative media reports about efforts at political level from India to influence political leaders in Sri Lanka regarding elections in the Sri Lankan Parliament to the post of the President of Sri Lanka.
“We categorically deny these media reports as completely false. They are clearly a figment of someone’s imagination.”
“It is reiterated that India supports the realization of aspirations of the people of Sri Lanka in accordance with democratic means and values, established institutions as well as constitutional provisions, and doesn’t interfere in internal affairs and democratic processes of another country.”
Acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe was elected as the eighth executive president of Sri Lanka. He received 134 votes in his favour.
The other two candidates – Dullas Alahapperuma and Anura Kumara Dissanayake received 82 and three votes respectively.
Total Votes: 225
Voted : 223
Valid Votes : 219
Invalid votes : 04
