Sri Lanka High Commission in Ottawa

Hon. Mangala Samaraweera MP was appointed today as Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister. Taking oaths in the presence of President Maithripala Sirisena at the Presidential Secretariat, he re-affirmed his commitment to “faithfully perform the duties and discharge the functions of the office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs in accordance with the Constitution”.

Read more: Mangala Samaraweera appointed as Foreign Minister

The leader of the United National Party (UNP) Ranil Wickremesinghe was sworn in as the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka before President Maithripala Sirisena at the Presidential Secretariat today (21).

After Mr. Wickremesinghe took oaths as the new PM, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and the United National Party (UNP), to work together in the next Parliament.

Read more: Ranil Wickremasinghe sworn in as Prime Minister

Click on the photo to listen to the statement

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe called upon all partiesrepresenting the parliament to form a consensus government.

Giving a special statement at the Temple Trees a short while ago,he said that he will take oaths as the Prime Minister of the next government.

Read more: Wickremesinghe Calls On AllParties In Parliament For Government Of Broad Consensus

EU observers have given a thumbs up to the recent parliamentary elections in Sri Lanka, saying the polls were well administered but noted that campaign expenditure was exorbitant with some candidates spending over 5 lakh dollars.

Read more: EU Observers Give Thumps Up To Lankan Parliamentary Polls

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called on the new government in Sri Lanka under United National Front (UNF) leader Ranil Wickremesinghe to make further progress on good governance, accountability and reconciliation.

Read more: UN chief congratulates new SL govt.

President Maithripala Sirisena in a Special Message to the Nation said the election held yesterday was the most peaceful election in the political history of this country, ever witnessed since the very first General Election held in 1947.

“And you all know very well that the just concluded election was a completely a different experience. An Election of a different form,” he said.

“I am extremely happy that a very peaceful election was held for the first time in Sri Lanka’s history at a time where I hold the reigns as President of this country. The key lesson one draws from this election is, that such a pleasant outcome of an election comes when the Head of the State refrains from getting involved in the election campaign per se and stays neutral which contributes heavily to the holding of a peaceful election,” the President said.

Full statement of the President:

Read more: As the Head of the State refrained neutral a free, fair and peaceful election could be held – President