President, PM congratulate Rajapaksa

President Pratibha Patil and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday congratulated Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa on his re-election and expressed confidence that the country would find lasting peace in which all communities would live with dignity and harmony.

India said the peaceful polls augur well for Sri Lanka's future and hoped the post-poll scenario would be free from violence as well. Patil and Singh sent separate congratulatory messages to Rajapaksa soon after the poll results came in giving him victory over former Army Chief Sarath Fonseka.

Singh also called up Rajapaksa to wish him personally. In her message, Patil said, "I am confident that under your continued leadership, Sri Lanka will attain greater heights and find lasting peace."

Noting that India and Sri Lanka share historically close and friendly relations, she said, "I wish to assure you of India's commitment to further deepen our relations with Sri Lanka. We look forward to working with you towards this end for the mutual benefit of our people."

Singh said Rajapaksa's electoral success "is a reflection of the trust" the people of Sri Lanka has reposed in him.

"I am confident that under your leadership, Sri Lanka will find lasting peace where all communities can live with dignity and in harmony," Singh said. Pointing out that both India and Sri Lanka have a shared commitment to democratic values, he said "we have time-tested ties of friendship and cooperation.

"I look forward to working closely with you to further strengthen our close and multi-dimensional, bilateral relations in the coming years."