Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday condoled the demise of former Indian External Affairs Minister Smt Sushma Swaraj, saying that her efforts to achieve regional policy objectives made a last impression among the Lankan public.
In a condolence message sent to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Premier said, “I have always known Smt Swaraj as a true friend of Sri Lanka, a neighbour and a relative of Sri Lanka who held a pleasing personality.
The message: “I am deeply pained to learn about the sudden passing away of Smt. Sushma Swaraj, former Minister of External Affairs of the Republic of India.
People of Sri Lanka will always remember her for her personal touch that she brought to relations between the two countries and also how she nurtured the region’s aspirations in various multinational fora.
“I had on numerous occasions during the past the opportunity to have personal interactions with Smt. Sushma Swaraj and found in her pleasing personality, a true friend, neighbor, and a relation of Sri Lanka.
“The relations between our two countries achieved great heights during Smt. Sushma Swaraj’s tenure as the Minister of External Affairs of India.
Please convey my deepest condolences to her family members and the people of India at this hour of grief.
“Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration,” the Prime Minister said.
(Daily News)