The new government of Sri Lanka expects to continue strengthening friendly relationship with China, said a member of the National People’s Power (NPP) in an interview after the announcement of presidential election results.

On Monday (Sep. 23), Anura Kumara Dissanayake took oaths as the 09th Executive President of Sri Lanka after emerging victorious at the 2024 presidential election held on Sep. 21.

Given that no candidate secured more than 50 percent of the votes, the Election Commission counted the second and third preferences of the two leading candidates, the first time in the history of Sri Lankan presidential election.

Dissanayake obtained 5,634,915 votes in the first count and 105,264 preferential votes during the second count.

Harini Amarasuriya, a member of the NPP, took questions after briefing the media on the election results on Sunday. When responding to a question from a China Media Group (CMG) reporter, she said the new government looks forward to extending the friendly relationship with China.

“We’ve worked very closely with China in the past, and we will continue to do so. We look forward to having a good relationship with China, as we’ve had in the past,” said Harini.

Meanwhile, Chinese President Xi Jinping had also extended his congratulations to his Sri Lankan counterpart.

“I attach great importance to the development of China-Sri Lanka relations, and stand ready to work with you to jointly carry forward our traditional friendship, consolidate political mutual trust, achieve more fruitful outcomes on high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, so as to advance the sustained and steady growth of China-Sri Lanka strategic cooperative partnership based on sincere mutual assistance and everlasting friendship and bring more benefits to the two peoples,” President Xi had said.

Speaking during a media briefing in Beijing on Sep. 23, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman – Lin Jian had also extended the warm wishes of China.

“Sri Lanka’s presidential election was held successfully in an orderly manner on September 21. Mr. Dissanayake was elected as new president of Sri Lanka, and was sworn in. China extends heartfelt congratulations on that. President Xi Jinping has sent a message to President Dissanayake to congratulate him,” Lin said.

“China and Sri Lanka are friendly neighbors. We are willing to work together with President Dissanayake and the new government of Sri Lanka to champion the essence of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, and renew the traditional friendship between China and Sri Lanka. We will seek closer synergy between our development strategies, and deepen high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, so as to make new progress together in advancing the China-Sri Lanka strategic cooperative partnership featuring sincere mutual assistance and ever-lasting friendship,” he said.