Prof. G.L. Peiris, Minister of External Affairs has congratulated Smt. Sushma Swaraj, on her appointment as Minister of External Affairs of the Republic of India, following her swearing in on Monday, 26th May 2014.
The text of the congratulatory message from Minister Peiris is as follows:-
27th May 2014
Her Excellency Smt. Sushma Swaraj
Minister of External Affairs of the Republic of India
New Delhi
Excellency,
It gives me immense pleasure to offer you my warmest congratulations on your assumption of office of the Minister of External Affairs of the Republic of India.
Your resounding electoral victory is yet another symbol of the trust and respect you have earned in your long illustrious career in the service of the people of India. We are pleased that you have been entrusted with the important assignment of the Minister of External Affairs at this momentous juncture for both India and our region. We welcome the initiative to associate regional leaders at the inauguration of the new Government in India as an excellent manifestation of the leadership that India can provide for stability and economic progress of the region. Sri Lanka stands ready to walk together with India towards the objective of promotion of greater South Asian solidarity.
India and Sri Lanka share very special links that go back very long time in history. Indeed, the sacred Buddhist centre of Sanchi visited by a large number of Sri Lankan Buddhist pilgrims, in recognition as the source of Buddhism in Sri Lanka, is located in the region you represent in the Lok Sabha. Our bilateral relations are bound by shared histories, value systems and common religious traditions that have stood the test of time. Today, we enjoy a multi-faceted, multi-dimensional relationship that covers all fields of contemporary importance for economic and social development as well as for peace and prosperity in our respective countries, the region and the world.
Your visit to Sri Lanka in April 2012 leading an All Party delegation of the Lok Sabha, to Sri Lanka, was a milestone in our relations. Your association and interest in Sri Lanka is a source of strength that can add renewed vigour and better understanding to further strengthen traditionally robust friendship between our two countries.
I am confident that we can together guide already close and friendly relations between India and Sri Lanka to flourish and grow from strength to strength, and usher in an era of greater partnership between our two countries in regional and global multilateral organizations in particular, SAARC and the United Nations.
Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration,
Prof. G.L. Peiris, M.P.
Minister of External Affairs of Sri Lanka
Original Message in pdf format
Ministry of External Affairs
Colombo
27 May 2014
