EAM Jaishankar meets Rajapaksa brothers; focus on challenges confronted by Sri Lanka

Former Sri Lankan presidents Mahinda Rajapaksa and his youthful brother Gotabaya Rajapaska held discussions with External Affairs Minister, India, S Jaishankar on a spread of problems with mutual curiosity

Colombo,UPDATED: Jan 20, 2023 19:13 IST

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar with Former Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa (Twitter/@DrSJaishankar)

By Press Trust of India: Former Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa and his youthful brother Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Friday held discussions with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on a spread of problems with mutual curiosity and thanked the Indian authorities for its steadfast dedication to helping Colombo throughout its troubled occasions.

Gotabaya Rajapaksa, 73, fled Sri Lanka to the Maldives on a Sri Lanka Airforce aircraft in July final 12 months, because the nation plunged into its worst financial and humanitarian disaster since its independence from Great Britain in 1948.

“Called on former President @PresRajapaksa today. Discussed the current challenges faced by Sri Lanka and India’s strong support in this hour of need,” Jaishankar stated in a tweet.

In September final 12 months, he was given particular safety and a state bungalow upon his return right here from Thailand.

Gotabaya Rajapaksa, an ex-military officer, was appointed Sri Lanka president in November 2019.

Mahinda Rajapaksa was compelled to resign as Sri Lanka’s prime minister in May final 12 months following avenue protests within the nation in opposition to the federal government led by Gotabaya Rajapaksa for mishandling the unprecedented financial disaster.

“Had successful discussions with India’s External Affairs Min @DrSJaishankar & discussed a range of issues of mutual interest,” Mahinda Rajapaksa tweeted.

Also Read: India to encourage higher investments in Sri Lanka’s financial system: EAM Jaishankar

“Also thanked the Indian govt. for its steadfast commitment in assisting #SriLanka during its troubled times & the strong ties shared between Sri Lanka & India,” the 77-year-old chief tweeted.

Jaishankar additionally met the chief of the opposition Sajith Premadasa and exchanged views about bilateral ties.

“Nice to meet leader of opposition @sajithpremadasa. Exchanged views about our bilateral ties,” he tweeted.

Later, Jaishankar additionally met Douglas Devanan, Sri Lanka’s minister of fisheries.

“Discussed cooperation on fisheries and stressed working together and humanitarian approach,” the External Affairs Minister stated in a tweet.

Jaishankar is in Sri Lanka to fulfill the nation’s high leaders to reinforce bilateral ties and finalise a debt restructuring plan to assist Colombo carve out a path from its financial disaster.

The IMF facility would allow the island nation to acquire bridging finance from markets and different lending establishments such because the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank.

Sri Lanka was hit by an unprecedented monetary disaster in 2022 resulting from a extreme paucity of overseas trade reserves, sparking political turmoil within the nation which led to the ouster of the omnipotent Rajapaksa household, which has dominated Sri Lankan politics for over twenty years.

Mahinda Rajapaksa, the patriarch of the Rajapaksa household, served as president from 2005 to 2015.

He additionally served because the prime minister from 2004 to 2005, 2018, and 2019 to 2022.

The Rajapaksas have dominated Sri Lankan politics for over twenty years.

Published On:

Jan 20, 2023