Sri Lanka’s political crisis: global community welcomes resolution

Several weeks after President Maithripala Sirisena abruptly replaced incumbent Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe with former president Mahinda Rajapaksa, leading to political tensions in the island, Wickremesinghe has been reinstated to his prime ministerial post, thereby ending the crisis – to the relief of Sri Lankans as well as the international community.

Spokesperson of the US Department of State Robert Palladino observed: “We are pleased that the leadership in Sri Lanka has resolved the political crisis of the past several weeks in accordance with constitutional norms and the rule of law.”

He also conveyed the US’ eagerness to work with Wickremesinghe.

Meanwhile, the EU commented: “As steady friends of Sri Lanka, we welcome the peaceful and democratic resolution of the political crisis in accordance with the constitution … We commend the resilience of Sri Lanka’s democratic institutions, and will continue to support its efforts towards national reconciliation and prosperity for all.”

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada Chrystia Freeland commended Sri Lanka’s judiciary for upholding the rule of law and putting an end to unconstitutional actions that undermined Sri Lanka’s democracy. To this end, she noted that “the government must seize this moment and deliver on accountability, constitutional reform and reconciliation for the people of Sri Lanka.”

Commenting on the same, the spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs of India Raveesh Kumar referred to the resolution as “a reflection of the maturity demonstrated by all political forces, and also of the resilience of Sri Lankan democracy and its institutions.”