Indian Express :
“We don’t want Sri Lanka to be sandwiched, especially between China and India,” said Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the newly-elected President of Sri Lanka and leader of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) in an interview with The Monocle ahead of the elections in the country.
Dissanayake, in a September 3 interview, shared his foreign policy vision for the country. “There are many power camps within a multipolar system. We won’t be a part of that geopolitical fight, nor will we be aligned with any party,” he remarked.
The JVP leader called both the countries “valued friends”. “Under an NPP government, we expect them to become close partners. We also want to maintain relations with the EU, the Middle East and Africa,” he added.
Dissanayake’s presidency comes after a decisive victory in the elections, defeating opposition leader Sajith Premadasa and 36 other candidates. His victory follows the resignation of Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, clearing the way for Dissanayake to appoint a new prime minister and cabinet.
The JVP, which leads the NPP coalition, has its roots in Sri Lanka’s revolutionary past, having led two failed armed uprisings in the 1970s and 1980s with the aim of establishing a socialist state.
Over the years, the party has shifted from its radical origins to become a key player in Sri Lankan democratic politics.
India and China have both extended their congratulations to Dissanayake post his victory.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed his best wishes to the new President, expressing his optimism for strengthening bilateral relations.
“I look forward to working closely with you to further strengthen our multifaceted cooperation for the benefit of our people and the entire region,” Modi said, reaffirming Sri Lanka’s significance in India’s Neighbourhood First Policy and Vision SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region).
In response, Dissanayake said, “I share your commitment to strengthening the ties between our nations. Together, we can work towards enhancing cooperation for the benefit of our peoples and the entire region.”